Fort Smith sales tax revenue trending lower through April

Fort Smith sales tax revenue was a little stronger in April than it had been through the first quarter of 2025, but numbers are still under those budgeted for the year, according to the city’s April tax report.

The city’s share of the Sebastian County sales tax was $2.146 million in April, up 2.3% from the $2.096 million collected from the tax in April 2024, according to the April sales tax report posted by the city.

April is the first month the tax generated revenue higher than the corresponding month last year, but it was not enough to meet the city’s estimate.

The April county tax share, which measures March transactions, was down 0.4% from the $2.138 million forecast by the city. The year-to-date tax total is $8.057 million, down 1.59% compared with the $8.187 million generated through April 2024. That tax brought in $24.49 million in 2024, 0.95% lower than 2023.

The city’s share of the countywide tax is important because the revenue provides money for the city’s general fund budget, with much of that budget paying for police, fire, and other essential city services.

Fort Smith’s 1% street tax – used for maintenance and new construction on streets, bridges, and drainage – generated $2.575 million in April, a 1.3% increase from the $2.541 million the tax generated in April 2024. The total revenue from the tax reported in April was down only 0.65 % from the city estimate of $2.592 million for the month.

The tax has generated $9.761 million so far in 2025, 0.63% less than the $9.823 million generated in the first quarter of 2024. The tax revenue totaled $29.51 million in 2024, just below the $29.92 million in 2023.

PREVIOUS ANNUAL COLLECTION INFO
Fort Smith 1% sales tax collection for streets
2024: $29.51 million
2023: $29.92 million
2022: $28.65 million
2021: $26.66 million
2020: $22.66 million
2019: $21.73 million
2018: $21.5 million

Fort Smith portion of 1% countywide sales tax
2024: $24.49 million
2023: $24.64 million
2022: $23.55 million
2021: $21.49 million
2020: $18.24 million
2019: $17.26 million
2018: $17.04 million
2017: $16.69 million