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Government budget and revenue in Council Bluffs, Iowa: official figures

Council Bluffs' city government took in $172.20 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, or $2,759 for each of its 62,405 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 276th lowest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$2,759
2024
City government spending per resident
$2,964
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,630
2024

How much does Council Bluffs spend and on what?

It spent $184.95 million in the same year, $2,964 per resident, the 249th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the water utility (19.8%), police (11.7%) and fire protection (8.1%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Council Bluffs collect per resident?

Taxes raised $87.53 million ($1,403 per resident, the 161st highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 56.2% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What taxes does Council Bluffs rely on?

Of Council Bluffs' tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, property tax made up 67.3%, general sales tax 16.1%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 12.1%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Council Bluffs' property tax share is the 194th highest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Council Bluffs get?

Payments from other governments made up 12.6% of Council Bluffs' city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024: 3.2% from the federal government ($81 per resident), 9.2% from the state. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Council Bluffs raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $36.56 million, 23.5% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $16.45 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Council Bluffs spend on police?

Council Bluffs' city government spent $21.59 million on police in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, $346 per resident (the 269th lowest of 582) and 11.7% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Council Bluffs spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $15.06 million, $241 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Council Bluffs have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, Council Bluffs' city government owed $101.73 million in long-term debt, $1,630 per resident (the 208th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $33.33 million of new long-term debt and repaid $11.16 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Council Bluffs pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $4.61 million in the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024, 2.5% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Council Bluffs city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 8.8% from $3,024 to $2,759, spending per resident fell 0.7% to $2,964, taxes per resident rose 8.3% to $1,403.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Council Bluffs compares with other cities in the United States

City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Council Bluffs ranks 224 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
221Palm Desert$3,048
222Grapevine$3,040
223Little Rock$3,039
224Council Bluffs$3,024
225Sacramento$3,024
226Herriman$3,018
227Asheville$3,014
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Council Bluffs ranks 228 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
225Idaho Falls$3,018
226Sioux City$3,003
227Springfield$2,990
228Council Bluffs$2,985
229Daytona Beach$2,979
230Napa$2,958
231Battle Creek$2,955
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Council Bluffs ranks 195 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
192Loveland$1,307
193Bowling Green$1,302
194Santa Clara$1,300
195Council Bluffs$1,295
196Tulsa$1,285
197Fort Collins$1,284
198Columbus$1,282
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Council Bluffs ranks 354 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
351Rochester$322
352Phoenix$321
353Merced$320
354Council Bluffs$320
355Mobile$319
356Loveland$319
357Marana$319
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Council Bluffs ranks 457 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
454Newark$1,433
455Fort Pierce$1,423
456Fayetteville$1,422
457Council Bluffs$1,420
458Miami$1,415
459Pembroke Pines$1,412
460Chapel Hill$1,407
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Council Bluffs ranks 176 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
173West Palm Beach70.7%
174Davenport70.5%
175Lancaster70.4%
176Council Bluffs70.4%
177Winston-Salem70.3%
178Mooresville70.3%
179Dallas70.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Council Bluffs ranks 146 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
143Iowa City31.1%
144Elgin30.8%
145Salem30.7%
146Council Bluffs30.5%
147Taylor30.4%
148Westland30.4%
149Oak Lawn30.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Council Bluffs ranks 307 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
304Fresno$2,769
305Raleigh$2,767
306Waterloo$2,762
307Council Bluffs$2,759
308Thornton$2,758
309Bloomington$2,758
310Parker$2,756
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Council Bluffs ranks 249 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
246Kirkland$2,983
247Houston$2,966
248Greensboro$2,964
249Council Bluffs$2,964
250Little Rock$2,957
251Carlsbad$2,931
252Pittsburgh$2,931
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Council Bluffs ranks 161 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
158Columbus$1,411
159St. Louis Park$1,411
160Oklahoma City$1,408
161Council Bluffs$1,403
162Rapid City$1,401
163Cedar Rapids$1,396
164Asheville$1,389
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Council Bluffs ranks 314 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
311Plainfield$347
312Coeur d'Alene$347
313Norman$346
314Council Bluffs$346
315West New York$345
316Irving$345
317Kenner$344
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Council Bluffs ranks 375 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
372Rockville$1,652
373Battle Creek$1,640
374Elkhart$1,640
375Council Bluffs$1,630
376Sterling Heights$1,621
377Davie$1,618
378Thornton$1,592
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Council Bluffs ranks 194 of 580, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
191Chapel Hill67.6%
192Tallahassee67.5%
193West Palm Beach67.4%
194Council Bluffs67.3%
195Cape Coral67.3%
196Holly Springs67.2%
197Norfolk67.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Council Bluffs ranks 399 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
396Bloomington12.9%
397Palmdale12.7%
398North Miami12.7%
399Council Bluffs12.6%
400Coconut Creek12.6%
401North Charleston12.6%
402Longmont12.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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