Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Tax revenue increases in area cities
Springdale, Fayetteville up 10 percent from last year
SPRINGDALE — Steady growth in sales tax revenue continued this month as cities received July receipts back from the state.
Springdale grew 10.5 percent and Fayetteville 10.4 in revenue received this month over the same period last year. Bentonville showed dramatic growth over a slow month last year with a 22.5 percent increase. Rogers showed a 5 percent gain.
Sales tax collected in July is remitted to cities in September. A 1 percent sales tax that feeds into the cities’ general funds is tracked for the comparison purposes of this report.
July sales have never been the city’s strongest, but they’re showing a rebound, said Wyman Morgan, financial services director.
Springdale is finally catching up to high figures from 2006. This September’s revenues were 2 percent higher than they were in 2006, the second month this year to best a 2006 number.
“We’re getting back to that,” Morgan said.
A new Walmart Supercenter and Neighborhood Market are driving growth for Springdale, Morgan said.
Springdale brought in $1,078,533 from a 1 percent of sales tax this September, compared to $975,854 last year, a difference of $102,679 or 10.5 percent.
Sales tax revenue received between January to September grew 11.3 percent compared to the same period last year. Last year’s January to September total was $8,327,468, and this year it rose to $9,272,077.
The increase will help pay for improvements around the city including parks, fire stations and roads, Morgan said.
This year may have been one of the best for sales tax revenue Fayetteville Finance Director Paul Becker has seen.
While there are new stores opening often in Fayetteville, the city has had no large new retailers.
“I’m not sure what’s driving it,” Becker said, referring to the increases.
Fayetteville brought in $ 1,636,582 in sales tax in September compared to $1,482,131 last year, a difference of $154,451 or 10.4 percent.
Sales tax revenue received between January and September grew 7.3 percent for Fayetteville compared to the same period last year. Last year’s January to September total was $13,531,273. This year it hit $14,522,227.
Percent increases on sales tax revenue may fall off some as Fayetteville compares this year’s holiday shopping to the increases it saw last year, Becker said.
Bentonville showed growth this September over a low month last year. Bentonville brought in $853,978 in sales tax this September compared with $697,319 last
year, a difference of $156,659 or 22.5 percent.
Sales tax revenue received between January to September showed a more steady growth with $7,289,304 received during that period last year and $8,034,577 received this year, a 10.2 percent increase compared to other cities.
Denise Land, Bentonville finance director, did not return calls requesting comment by deadline.
Growth in Rogers slowed somewhat. The city saw $1,312,152 in sales tax revenues this September compared to $1,250,032 last year, a difference of $62,120 or 5 percent.
The 5 percent increase is what she had projected for the month, said Casey Wilhelm, director of finance for Rogers. In the first nine months of the year sales tax income for Rogers has been 8 percent higher than budgeted.
Sales tax revenue received between January and September showed a 7.71 percent increase with the city receiving $11,121,612 during that period last year and $11,979,431 this year.
The higher numbers around the region are encouraging, Wilhelm said.
“If they do well, we do well too,” she said.