Crawford County Judge happy with tax revenue, notes water supply concern

Sales tax revenue is up year to date in four Fort Smith metro counties, with Crawford County posting the largest percentage gain. Crawford County Judge Chris Keith said he’s happy with the tally and is hoping to avoid any “shutdown” declines later in the year.

Crawford County sales tax revenue between January and August was $9.488 million, up 8.4% compared with the same period in 2024, according to the latest tax data from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). The county received $1.194 million in August, down 1.8% compared with August 2024.

“We’re sitting pretty decent on our county general (budget) right now,” Keith said when asked about the tax revenue and county finances. “Of course you could always use more. It’s never enough. But concerns right now, especially with the (federal government) shutdown and things, people are going to kind of ease off of their buying and traveling and stuff with some of these workers that are shut off. Time will tell where that sits as far as how our revenue continues over the next few months.”

Keith said continuing to improve roads and other infrastructure in the county is a priority. He also said plans to expand port operations in Van Buren and ongoing work to build the 14.3-mile segment of Interstate 49 from Alma in Crawford County and across the Arkansas River to Barling in Sebastian County could result in population and job growth that may require more water.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) in October 2024 awarded Tulsa-based Manhattan Road & Bridge a $282.5 million contract to construct the 3.1-mile stretch of I-49 between Highway 22 in Barling and Gun Club Road in Crawford County. This job is estimated to be complete by early 2029, according to ARDOT.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in November 2023 a $15.096 million grant to help fund construction of a slackwater harbor in Van Buren. Construction on the slackwater harbor in Van Buren along the Arkansas River was initially set to begin in April 2026, with completion estimated to be in the first quarter of 2027. That timeline has been delayed, with U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, and other officials working to get the work back on track.

“If we get the anticipated growth that they say we could see off of that (port and I-49), I don’t think we have a water supply big enough to furnish that many people,” Keith said. “So I would like to see some type of a new water source formed or one of the current ones enlarged.”

Keith said the county now receives a majority of its water from the city of Fort Smith through Lake Fort Smith, which is in Crawford County.

OTHER COUNTY NUMBERS
Sebastian County sales tax revenue through August totaled $23.685 million, up 0.14% compared with the same period in 2024, according to the DFA data. The August sales tax revenue was $3.036 million, up 6.7% compared with August 2024. The county had 2024 sales tax revenue of $35.952 million, down 1.1% compared with 2023.

Sales tax revenue in Logan County through August was $4.609 million, up 6.8% compared with the same period in 2024. The August revenue was $614,538, up 13.1% compared with August 2024. Logan County had 2024 tax revenue of $6.576 million, up 0.83% compared with 2023.

Franklin County sales tax revenue through August was $3.845 million, up 1.45% compared with the same period in August. The August sales tax revenue was $503,668, essentially flat compared with $504,062 in August 2024. Franklin County tax revenue in 2024 was $5.444 million, up 4.6% compared with 2023.

Crawford County sales tax revenue in 2024 was $13.524 million, up 16.3% compared with 2023.