City government · White County, AR

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

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), Searcy took in $52.2 million and spent $53.9 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (water, garbage collection)35%City taxes33%County and local tax money12%Federal tax money7.8%State tax money6.1%Fines and other5.8%

What stands out

27%

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

City taxes33%

Sales tax
27%$14.2 million
Other taxes
4.8%$2.5 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 2 more
  • Public utility taxes$1.9 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$488 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$80 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$3 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
1.2%$638 thousand

Fees for services35%

Fees for services
35%$18.4 million
What's in fees for servicesWater; garbage collection and 4 more
  • Water$8.0 million
  • Garbage collection$4.8 million
  • Sewer$4.2 million
  • Airport$1.1 million
  • Parks and recreation$281 thousand
  • Other service charges$19 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money7.8%

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

From the federal government
7.8%$4.1 million

State tax money6.1%

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

From the state
6.1%$3.2 million

County and local tax money12%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
12%$6.1 million

Fines and other5.8%

Interest, rents and other
4.7%$2.4 million
Fines
1.2%$614 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities31%Police, fire, courts and jails27%Parks, recreation and libraries22%Roads, transit and parking11%Running the government and other costs8.8%All other spending0.5%

What stands out

22%

of Searcy's spending goes to parks, recreation and libraries.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 5.6%.

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
31%$16.7 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Garbage and solid waste$6.5 million
  • Sewer systems$5.1 million
  • Water supply$5.0 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
27%$14.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 2 more
  • Police$8.2 million
  • Fire protection$4.7 million
  • Courts and legal services$795 thousand
  • Inspections and regulation$713 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
22%$12.1 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$6.1 million
  • Libraries$6.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$5.7 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$3.5 million
  • Airports$2.2 million
Running the government and other costs
8.8%$4.8 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$2.8 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$332 thousand
  • Other government-run businesses$134 thousand
Interest on debt
0.4%$215 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$135 thousand
  • Interest on general debt$80 thousand
Social services
0.1%$57 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$57 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of Searcy. 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 Searcy 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.