ZIP 72903 · Fort Smith, AR

Four governments run on your community's money

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

Yearly budgets from each government's latest fiscal year on record. Tap one to jump to it.

Your state

State of Arkansas

$26.3 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes44%Federal tax money38%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)12%Fines and other6.7%
Full Arkansas breakdown

What stands out

5.2%

of Arkansas' money comes from property tax.Most state governments get none.

State taxes44%

Sales tax
18%$5.07 billion
Individual income tax
9.5%$2.76 billion
Other taxes
8.1%$2.35 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; insurance premium taxes and 16 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$618 million
  • Insurance premium taxes$409 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$329 million
  • Tobacco taxes$201 million
  • Motor vehicle licenses$193 million
  • Occupation and business licenses$128 million
  • Amusement taxes$103 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$80.0 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$77.3 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$64.4 million
  • Corporation licenses$39.4 million
  • Severance taxes$36.4 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$34.3 million
  • Driver's licenses$19.2 million
  • Public utility licenses$9.4 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$6.3 million
  • Other licenses$1.7 million
  • Amusement licenses$1.2 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Property tax
5.2%$1.52 billion
Business income tax
3.4%$972 million

Fees for services12%

Fees for services
12%$3.33 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 10 more
  • Hospital bills$1.46 billion
  • College tuition$1.14 billion
  • University housing and dining$371 million
  • Other service charges$286 million
  • Parks and recreation$44.0 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$24.5 million
  • Road charges$7.3 million
  • Other education charges$1.4 million
  • Other school charges$202 thousand
  • Garbage collection$102 thousand
  • School lunches$58 thousand
  • Airport$30 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money38%

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

From the federal government
38%$11.0 billion

Local tax money<0.1%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
<0.1%$13.3 million

Fines and other6.7%

Interest, rents and other
6.6%$1.91 billion
Fines
<0.1%$17.9 million
Arkansas page →

Where the money goes

Social services33%Sent to local governments29%Schools and colleges15%Health and hospitals6.7%Roads, transit and parking6.6%All other spending9.2%

What stands out

29%

of Arkansas' spending goes to local governments.A typical state government spends 24%.

Full Arkansas breakdown

Spending by category100%

Social services
33%$8.78 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$8.66 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$109 million
  • Welfare institutions$9.9 million
  • Veterans' services$3.0 million
Sent to local governments
29%$7.57 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other and not broken out and 16 more
  • Sent to school districts$6.15 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$452 million
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$443 million
  • Sent to local governments: general support$354 million
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$80.8 million
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$21.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$18.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$16.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$7.9 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$7.1 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$5.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$3.6 million
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$2.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: public health$2.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$575 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$291 thousand
  • Sent to the federal government$216 thousand
  • Sent to local governments: hospitals$122 thousand
Schools and colleges
15%$4.03 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$2.91 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$507 million
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$464 million
  • Other education$111 million
  • Elementary and secondary schools$43.2 million
Health and hospitals
6.7%$1.76 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$1.55 billion
  • Public health$214 million
Roads, transit and parking
6.6%$1.72 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways and airports
  • Roads and highways$1.72 billion
  • Airports$526 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
3.3%$865 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; courts and legal services and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$304 million
  • Courts and legal services$191 million
  • Police$144 million
  • Inspections and regulation$136 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$89.7 million
Running the government and other costs
3.2%$851 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$531 million
  • Other and not broken out$179 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$104 million
  • Other government administration$27.7 million
  • Government buildings$9.2 million
Environment and natural resources
1.3%$349 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$349 million
Interest on debt
0.9%$246 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.3%$81.5 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$78.8 million
  • Libraries$2.6 million
Housing and community development
<0.1%$20.6 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
<0.1%$14.2 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesGarbage and solid waste and sewer systems
  • Garbage and solid waste$13.5 million
  • Sewer systems$684 thousand
Arkansas page →

Your county

Sebastian County

$91.5 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

Where the money comes from

County taxes71%State tax money9.6%Fines and other9.4%Fees for services (parks and recreation)5.1%Local tax money3.8%Federal tax money1.3%
Full Sebastian County breakdown

What stands out

45%

of Sebastian County's money comes from sales tax.A typical U.S. county of 50,000 to 250,000 people gets 4.2%.

County taxes71%

Sales tax
45%$35.4 million
Property tax
24%$18.8 million
Other taxes
2.5%$2.0 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes
  • Public utility taxes$2.0 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services5.1%

Fees for services
5.1%$4.1 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges and parks and recreation
  • Other service charges$3.0 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.0 million

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money1.3%

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

From the federal government
1.3%$1.0 million

State tax money9.6%

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

From the state
9.6%$7.6 million

Local tax money3.8%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
3.8%$3.0 million

Fines and other9.4%

Interest, rents and other
7.1%$5.7 million
Fines
2.3%$1.8 million
Sebastian County page →

Where the money goes

Sent to other local governments36%Police, fire, courts and jails32%Running the government and other costs17%Roads, transit and parking9.2%Parks, recreation and libraries3.1%All other spending3.3%

What stands out

36%

of Sebastian County's spending goes to local governments.Most U.S. counties of 50,000 to 250,000 people spend nothing on this.

Full Sebastian County breakdown

Spending by category100%

Sent to other local governments
36%$32.7 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out and sent to the state government
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$30.2 million
  • Sent to the state government$2.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
32%$29.1 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; prisons and jails and 3 more
  • Police$13.3 million
  • Prisons and jails$8.4 million
  • Courts and legal services$5.2 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$1.7 million
  • Fire protection$485 thousand
Running the government and other costs
17%$15.4 million
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 2 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$6.8 million
  • Other and not broken out$4.4 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.9 million
  • Government buildings$1.3 million
Roads, transit and parking
9.2%$8.4 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways
  • Roads and highways$8.4 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
3.1%$2.8 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$2.2 million
  • Libraries$637 thousand
Health and hospitals
2.3%$2.1 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$2.1 million
Social services
0.6%$588 thousand
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$588 thousand
Interest on debt
0.2%$165 thousand
Environment and natural resources
0.2%$163 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$163 thousand
Sebastian County page →

Your city

City of Fort Smith

$237 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended December 31, 2023.

About 99% of this ZIP is in Fort Smith.

Where the money comes from

City taxes32%Fees for services (sewer, water)29%State tax money16%Federal tax money8.7%County and local tax money8.7%Fines and other6.0%

What stands out

8.7%

of Fort Smith's money comes from county and other local tax money.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people gets 0.9%.

Full Fort Smith breakdown

City taxes32%

Sales tax
21%$61.3 million
Property tax
5.6%$16.1 million
Other taxes
4.8%$13.8 million
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; other licenses and 1 more
  • Public utility taxes$9.3 million
  • Other licenses$3.3 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$1.2 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services29%

Fees for services
29%$82.7 million
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 6 more
  • Sewer$28.4 million
  • Water$27.7 million
  • Garbage collection$21.4 million
  • Airport$2.8 million
  • Parks and recreation$1.4 million
  • Other service charges$566 thousand
  • Transit fares$197 thousand
  • Parking$142 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money8.7%

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

From the federal government
8.7%$25.2 million

State tax money16%

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

From the state
16%$47.1 million

County and local tax money8.7%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
8.7%$25.1 million

Fines and other6.0%

Interest, rents and other
5.1%$14.7 million
Fines
0.9%$2.5 million
Fort Smith page →

Where the money goes

Water, sewer, trash and utilities32%Roads, transit and parking26%Police, fire, courts and jails19%Running the government and other costs11%Parks, recreation and libraries8.4%All other spending4.5%

What stands out

26%

of Fort Smith's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 50,000+ people spends 10%.

Full Fort Smith breakdown

Spending by category100%

Water, sewer, trash and utilities
32%$76.6 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesWater supply; sewer systems and 1 more
  • Water supply$35.3 million
  • Sewer systems$25.0 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$16.2 million
Roads, transit and parking
26%$60.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 2 more
  • Roads and highways$42.5 million
  • Airports$15.4 million
  • Public transit$2.8 million
  • Parking$233 thousand
Police, fire, courts and jails
19%$44.4 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 1 more
  • Police$22.3 million
  • Fire protection$20.0 million
  • Courts and legal services$2.1 million
Running the government and other costs
11%$25.0 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$19.6 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$2.9 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$2.6 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
8.4%$19.9 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesLibraries and parks and recreation
  • Libraries$14.2 million
  • Parks and recreation$5.6 million
Interest on debt
3.8%$9.0 million
What's in interest on debtInterest on water supply debt and interest on general debt
  • Interest on water supply debt$8.9 million
  • Interest on general debt$79 thousand
Housing and community development
0.6%$1.5 million
Health and hospitals
<0.1%$133 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$133 thousand
Fort Smith page →

Your schools

Fort Smith School District

$222 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State tax money73%Federal tax money12%School district taxes9.1%Fines and other4.2%Fees for services (school lunches, school tuition and transportation)1.5%County and local tax money0.4%

What stands out

12%

of Fort Smith School District's money comes from federal tax money.Most school districts with 5,000 to 25,000 students get none.

Full Fort Smith School District breakdown

School district taxes9.1%

Property tax
9.0%$19.9 million
Other taxes
<0.1%$47 thousand
What's in other taxesOther taxes not classified elsewhere
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$47 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Fees for services1.5%

Fees for services
1.5%$3.2 million
What's in fees for servicesOther school charges; school lunches and 1 more
  • Other school charges$1.9 million
  • School lunches$1.1 million
  • School tuition and transportation$264 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money12%

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

From the federal government
12%$25.9 million

State tax money73%

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

From the state
73%$161 million

County and local tax money0.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.4%$836 thousand

Fines and other4.2%

Interest, rents and other
4.2%$9.2 million
Fort Smith School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges98%Interest on debt2.1%Sent to other local governments0.3%
Full Fort Smith School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
98%$217 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$217 million
Interest on debt
2.1%$4.6 million
Sent to other local governments
0.3%$635 thousand
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to school districts and sent to the state government
  • Sent to school districts$406 thousand
  • Sent to the state government$229 thousand
Fort Smith School District page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of Arkansas. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

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

Fort Smith School District. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

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

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.