City government · Crittenden County, AR

West Memphis's money: where it comes from and where it goes

In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2023), West Memphis took in $82.9 million and spent $86.7 million.

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

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Where it comes from

Fees for services (electric power, sewer)50%City taxes35%Fines and other5.5%State tax money4.3%County and local tax money3.6%Federal tax money2.3%

What stands out

12%

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

City taxes35%

Other taxes
21%$17.2 million
What's in other taxesPari-mutuel (betting) taxes; other selective sales taxes and 4 more
  • Pari-mutuel (betting) taxes$10.7 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$3.2 million
  • Public utility taxes$2.6 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$303 thousand
  • Other licenses$296 thousand
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$106 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
12%$10.0 million
Property tax
2.0%$1.6 million

Fees for services50%

Fees for services
50%$41.1 million
What's in fees for servicesElectric power; sewer and 6 more
  • Electric power$30.9 million
  • Sewer$2.6 million
  • Garbage collection$2.6 million
  • Water$2.4 million
  • Airport$1.5 million
  • Other service charges$836 thousand
  • Ports and waterways$195 thousand
  • Parks and recreation$7 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%$1.9 million

State tax money4.3%

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

From the state
4.3%$3.5 million

County and local tax money3.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
3.6%$3.0 million

Fines and other5.5%

Interest, rents and other
4.5%$3.8 million
Fines
1.0%$814 thousand

Where it goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities55%Police, fire, courts and jails23%Running the government and other costs7.8%Roads, transit and parking6.4%Parks, recreation and libraries3.6%All other spending3.9%

What stands out

55%

of West Memphis' 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
55%$48.0 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesElectric power; water supply and 2 more
  • Electric power$32.0 million
  • Water supply$7.7 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$4.9 million
  • Sewer systems$3.4 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
23%$19.9 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$11.6 million
  • Fire protection$7.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$940 thousand
Running the government and other costs
7.8%$6.7 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$4.5 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$1.5 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$769 thousand
Roads, transit and parking
6.4%$5.6 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$3.8 million
  • Airports$1.7 million
  • Ports and harbors$55 thousand
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.6%$3.2 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$2.7 million
  • Libraries$473 thousand
Health and hospitals
2.2%$1.9 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$1.9 million
Interest on debt
1.0%$887 thousand
Housing and community development
0.6%$527 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover

City of West Memphis. 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 West Memphis 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.