Northwest Arkansas sales tax revenue jumps 16.91% in July report

The four largest cities in Northwest Arkansas had record sales tax revenue for the region at $10.508 million reported in July. Cumulative revenue from Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale rose 16.91% from the year-ago total, with all four cities posting gains.

Through the first seven monthly reports of 2023, the four cities had cumulative sales tax revenue of $65.469 million, up 11.61% from a year ago.

Bentonville reported $3.253 million in revenue, up an impressive 50.76% and the first $3 million month in history for any of the four cities in this report. Bentonville has posted double-digit tax revenue gains each month through July. Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman said retail, food and services are drivers of the growth. She said tourism is also dominant in the city, given the investments made in arts, trails, aviation and recreational amenities. Through the July report, the city has total sales tax revenue of $16.912 million, up 23.57% from the same period last year.

Rogers had July sales tax revenue of $2.462 million, up 6.87% from a year ago. Rogers has seen its growth slow year over year in most of the monthly reports thus far in 2023. The city still attracts shoppers and has an outdoor entertainment scene which city leaders say is bringing more residents from the north and south. Through the July report, Rogers posted total sales tax revenue of $16.432 million, up 7.98% from a year ago.

Fayetteville’s sales tax revenue totaled $2.731 million in the July report, up 8.93% compared with July 2022. Fayetteville, the largest city in the region, has amassed sales tax revenue of $18.453 million through the July report, up 8.91% compared with the same period in 2022.

Springdale posted sales tax revenue of $2.06 million, up 2.09% year over year. Mayor Doug Sprouse has said he expects revenue growth to slow in the back half of the year but still be positive overall. Springdale’s sales tax revenue totaled $13.731 million through July, up 7.2% compared with the same period in 2022.