Sales tax revenue growth pace weakens in top Northwest Arkansas cities

BusinessNorthwest Arkansas

by Kim Souza ([email protected]) ago 75 views 

The top four Northwest Arkansas cities saw a combined sales tax revenue decline in the June report. The total monthly revenue among the cities was $9.037 million, down 9.19% from a year ago. A significant dip in the Bentonville numbers pushed the overall tally down.

For the first half of this year, revenue reported by the cities totaled $57.852 million, up 0.41% from the $57.614 million reported a year ago, the slowest growth since 2024, and following double-digit returns in 2021 to 2023. Even so, three of the four cities in the report show slightly higher revenue year-to-date over the same period in 2025.

Bentonville reported sales tax revenue of $1.571 million in June, down 32.1%. That came on the heels of 310.87% growth reported in May, and it is the lowest monthly revenue reported by the city in 15 months. Through June, Bentonville reported revenue totaling $13.008 million, up 1.9% from the $12.764 million in sales tax revenue a year ago. Sales tax revenue has been offset by rebates totaling $3.675 million through May.

In Rogers, sales tax revenue totaled $2.589 million in the June report, down 3.17% from a year ago. Through June, revenue totals $15.474 million, up 0.53% year over year. The city also reports rebates have offset revenue by $880,947 through May.

Fayetteville also saw lower growth in at least half of the months reported this year. For the June report, sales tax revenue totaled $2.78 million, down 0.3% from a year ago. Through the first half of 2026, revenue totaled $16.848 million, up 1.72%. Fayetteville’s sales tax revenue has been offset by rebates totaling $2.155 million through May.

Springdale also continues to report lower sales tax revenue growth, logging six consecutive months of negative results compared to last year. The June report showed monthly revenue of $2.094 million, down 3.5% from a year ago. For the six months, sales tax revenue totaled $12.52 million, down 2.87% from a year ago. Rebates have offset sales tax revenue by more than $1.5 million through May.

SALES TAX REVENUE (January – June)
Bentonville
2026: $13.008 million
2025: $12.764 million
up 1.91%

Fayetteville
2026: $16.848 million
2025: $16.562 million
up 1.72%

Rogers
2026: $15,474 million
2025: $15.396 million
up 0.56%

Springdale
2026: $12.52 million
2025: $12.891 million
down 2.87%