City government · Ouachita County, AR

Camden's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Camden took in $16.9 million and spent $19.0 million.

Latest recorded year: ended December 31, 2023Comes fromGoes to

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Where it comes from

City taxes42%Fees for services (water, sewer)34%County and local tax money11%State tax money6.7%Fines and other3.9%Federal tax money2.3%

What stands out

28%

of Camden's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.

City taxes42%

Sales tax
28%$4.7 million
Other taxes
8.2%$1.4 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 3 more
  • Public utility taxes$929 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$389 thousand
  • Occupation and business licenses$47 thousand
  • Other licenses$26 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$1 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
5.8%$987 thousand

Fees for services34%

Fees for services
34%$5.8 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; sewer and 2 more
  • Water$3.0 million
  • Sewer$2.0 million
  • Garbage collection$385 thousand
  • Airport$377 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money2.3%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
2.3%$396 thousand

State tax money6.7%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
6.7%$1.1 million

County and local tax money11%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
11%$1.9 million

Fines and other3.9%

Interest, rents and other
2.6%$434 thousand
Fines
1.3%$220 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities39%Police, fire, courts and jails33%Roads, transit and parking15%Running the government and other costs7.3%Parks, recreation and libraries3.7%All other spending2.6%

What stands out

39%

of Camden's spending goes to water, sewer, trash and other utilities.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 24%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
39%$7.4 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
  • Sewer systems$2.9 million
  • Water supply$2.6 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$1.9 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
33%$6.2 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$3.2 million
  • Fire protection$2.6 million
  • Courts and legal services$378 thousand
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$85 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
15%$2.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$2.3 million
  • Airports$452 thousand
Running the government and other costs
7.3%$1.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 2 more
  • Other and not broken out$542 thousand
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$508 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$189 thousand
  • Government buildings$143 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.7%$701 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$701 thousand
Interest on debt
2.1%$398 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$215 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$183 thousand
Sent to other local governments
0.5%$102 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$102 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Camden. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

What this covers. The money of City of Camden itself. Other governments that serve the same area (the city, county, school district and state) are separate and not included. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, and pension trust funds are not counted as revenue.