City government · Phillips County, AR

Helena-West Helena's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Helena-West Helena took in $14.2 million and spent $15.1 million.

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

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Where it comes from

City taxes36%Fees for services (garbage collection, water)33%County and local tax money17%State tax money7.9%Fines and other5.5%Federal tax money0.2%

What stands out

24%

of Helena-West Helena's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities, towns and villages of under 10,000 people get none.

City taxes36%

Sales tax
24%$3.4 million
Other taxes
7.0%$997 thousand
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other selective sales taxes and 1 more
  • Public utility taxes$581 thousand
  • Other selective sales taxes$334 thousand
  • Other licenses$82 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
5.4%$772 thousand

Fees for services33%

Fees for services
33%$4.7 million
What's in fees for servicesGarbage collection; water and 2 more
  • Garbage collection$2.1 million
  • Water$1.7 million
  • Sewer$837 thousand
  • Airport$69 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money0.2%

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

From the federal government
0.2%$34 thousand

State tax money7.9%

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

From the state
7.9%$1.1 million

County and local tax money17%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
17%$2.3 million

Fines and other5.5%

Interest, rents and other
4.4%$625 thousand
Fines
1.1%$161 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities38%Police, fire, courts and jails31%Running the government and other costs17%Roads, transit and parking11%Interest on debt1.8%All other spending0.3%

What stands out

31%

of Helena-West Helena's spending goes to police, fire, courts and jails.A typical U.S. city, town or village of under 10,000 people spends 11%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
38%$5.8 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; water supply and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$2.6 million
  • Water supply$2.1 million
  • Sewer systems$1.1 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
31%$4.7 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$2.2 million
  • Fire protection$2.1 million
  • Courts and legal services$359 thousand
Running the government and other costs
17%$2.6 million
What's in running the government and other costsCentral staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology); other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.3 million
  • Other and not broken out$1.0 million
  • Government buildings$204 thousand
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$127 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
11%$1.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$1.6 million
  • Airports$102 thousand
Interest on debt
1.8%$274 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
  • Interest on general debt$240 thousand
  • Interest on water supply debt$34 thousand
Health and hospitals
0.2%$32 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$32 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.1%$19 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation
  • Parks and recreation$19 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Helena-West Helena. 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 Helena-West Helena 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.