Macon-Bibb County, GA vs Columbus, GA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Columbus, GA and Macon-Bibb County, GA spend within 5.8% of each other per resident — $15,522 versus $14,678 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Columbus, GA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 82/100 (grade A) against 63/100 (grade C) for Macon-Bibb County, GA — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Macon-Bibb County, GA reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Columbus, GA carries $37 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: police leads in Macon-Bibb County, GA at $1,334 per resident and in Columbus, GA at $1,611.
They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Macon-Bibb County, GA at 100% of total revenue, whereas Columbus, GA relies most on other revenue at 15%.
Summary
Columbus spends 5.4% more per capita than Macon-Bibb County ($844/person difference). Columbus, GA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 82/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Property Tax | $0 | $64 |
| Sales Tax | $63 | $315 |
| Income Tax | $828 | $688 |
| Intergovernmental | $8,434 | $792 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,259 |
| Other | $1,139 | $3,202 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,334 | $1,611 |
| Fire Protection | $918 | $699 |
| Highways & Roads | $646 | $443 |
| Education | $0 | $21 |
| Public Welfare | $552 | $1,247 |
| Health | $252 | $0 |
| Hospitals | $559 | $170 |
| Parks & Recreation | $659 | $669 |
| Housing | $1,875 | $2,701 |
| Sewerage | $141 | $66 |
| Utilities | $1,074 | $1,989 |
| Other | $6,669 | $5,907 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.