Sales tax revenue from April grows 40.7% in four Northwest Arkansas cities

The June report from Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale city offices indicates the cumulative sales tax revenue from April sales totaled $7.976 million, up 40.76% from a year ago. Revenue for the month also rose 25.8% from April 2019, well ahead of the pandemic.

The June report reflects the 1% sales tax collected by each city in April on goods and services. Through the first half of 2021 the reported sales tax revenue for Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers totaled $43.947 million, up 18.19% a year ago, and rising 24.59% from the same period in 2019.

Bentonville posted a 74% jump in April sales tax revenue reported in June. The city also posted solid-double-digit gains reported in all but one month this calendar year. April sales tax revenue reported in June was $2.031 million, nearly twice the gains of Fayetteville or Rogers and three times that of Springdale. Bentonville is on pace for a record year in sales tax revenue receipts. Mayor Stephanie Orman said the city is rapidly growing the number households and new businesses, and each are adding to the higher sales tax revenue. She said the city is conservative in its projections, but the higher revenue is welcomed as Bentonville continues to invest in trails, parks and street infrastructure. She said according to the U.S Census Bureau, Bentonville is considered the fifth fastest-growing city in the United States.

“With the new Walmart home office campus construction in Bentonville spanning more than 350 acres, our city has a strong economic base and shows no signs of slowing down,” Orman said in her state of the city address.

Through the first six reports of 2021, Bentonville’s sales tax revenue is up 36.69% from the same period in 2020, and up 50.6% from the first half reports in 2019.

Springdale is also experiencing robust growth without a large retail center. Springdale’s June report showed April sales tax rose 14.93% from the same month last year. Total receipts were $1.648 million compared with $1.434 million a year ago, and $1.319 million in April sales tax revenue in 2019.

This week the city welcomed back its Rodeo of the Ozarks after the 2020 hiatus because of the pandemic. Mayor Doug Sprouse said the return of events and minor league baseball to Arvest Ballpark should have a positive impact on the city’s sales tax revenue throughout the summer months.

“We are excited to see people out and about as you can see there is pent-up demand for people to get back to living their lives and visiting with friends. After all the concerns and questions we had last year with COVID-19, the revenue numbers remain stronger than expected as consumers continue to support businesses in Springdale,” Sprouse said.

Through the first half of 2021 sales tax reports Springdale’s total revenue is $9.046 million, up 10.71% from the same period in 2020 and up 19.8% from 2019. Sprouse said the city is on pace for a record year.

Fayetteville has also seen robust sales tax revenue increases this year. In the June report. Fayetteville’s April sales tax revenue totaled $2.326 million, up 39.87% from the same month last year. Total revenue in the January-June reports was $13.16 million, up 16.5% from the same period last year and up 19.71% from the pre-COVID year of 2019. Mayor Lionel Jordan said the increased revenue is a positive indicator Fayetteville residents are shopping, eating and recreating in the city. He said the city is in sound fiscal shape and is adding trails, services and infrastructure that residents and visitors alike can enjoy.

Rogers also is experiencing higher-than-expected sales tax revenue. In the June report, Rogers sales tax from April totaled $1.969 million, up 40.55% from the prior-year-period. When compared with the same month in 2019, sales tax revenue rose 13.2%. Mayor Greg Hines recently told Talk Business & Politics the city’s entertainment district is rebounding from being shuttered in 2019. He said outdoor venues like the Walmart AMP and Top Golf are positioned to see steady demand this summer as more families are vaccinated and are eager to get back to concerts and sporting events. He said farmer’s markets and other outdoor events are well attended so far this summer.

Rogers continues to attract new restaurants and Hines said even through the pandemic the city was recruiting new businesses and investors which he hopes will pay off in the coming months.

Through the June report, Rogers had sales tax revenue of $11.289 million, up 12.12% from the same six months in 2020 and up 15.3% from the like period in 2019.