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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Waterloo, IA vs Council Bluffs, IA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Waterloo spends 0.8% more per capita than Council Bluffs ($140/person difference). Waterloo, IA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 71/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Waterloo, IA
Pop. 67,256
B
71/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden28
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency65
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Council Bluffs, IA
Pop. 62,670
D
43/100
Budget Balance13
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency66
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Waterloo
Council Bluffs
Total Spending
$1.2B
$1.1B
Spending / Capita
$17,802
$17,662
Total Revenue
$1.6B
$883.7M
Revenue / Capita
$23,537
$14,100
Total Debt
$40.7M
$62.3M
Debt / Capita
$605
$994
Population
67,256
62,670
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Fire Protection
Waterloo$223
Council Bluffs$850
Highways & Roads
Waterloo$108
Council Bluffs$373
Parks & Recreation
Waterloo$1,325
Council Bluffs$1,587
Education
Waterloo$10
Council Bluffs$0
Health
Waterloo$431
Council Bluffs$562

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

WaterlooCouncil Bluffs
Property Tax
$59
$0
Sales Tax
$677
$234
Income Tax
$920
$1,036
Intergovernmental
$2,021
$383
Charges & Fees
$1,614
$2,374
Other
$3,969
$3,427

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

WaterlooCouncil Bluffs
Fire Protection
$223
$850
Highways & Roads
$108
$373
Education
$10
$0
Public Welfare
$2,637
$1,494
Health
$431
$562
Hospitals
$1,864
$138
Parks & Recreation
$1,325
$1,587
Housing
$3,169
$3,385
Sewerage
$205
$181
Utilities
$1,874
$3,119
Interest on Debt
$0
$278
Other
$5,957
$5,695
B
Waterloo, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 71/100
Good fiscal health
D
Council Bluffs, IA
Fiscal Health Score: 43/100
Below average fiscal health

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