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Government budget and revenue in Bentonville, Arkansas: official figures

Bentonville's city government took in $256.62 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $4,435 for each of its 57,868 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 128th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

City government revenue per resident
$4,435
2024
City government spending per resident
$3,857
2024
City long-term debt per resident
$1,854
2024

How much does Bentonville spend and on what?

It spent $223.20 million in the same year, $3,857 per resident, the 162nd highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were the electric utility (35.1%), parks and recreation (10.5%) and fire protection (7.5%) of the total.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much tax does Bentonville collect per resident?

Taxes raised $80.16 million ($1,385 per resident, the 167th highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 51.4% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What taxes does Bentonville rely on?

Of Bentonville's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 17.2%, general sales tax 72.0%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 7.6%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Bentonville's property tax share is the 50th lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much federal and state money does Bentonville get?

Payments from other governments made up 15.6% of Bentonville's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 1.8% from the federal government ($48 per resident), 2.9% from the state and 10.9% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bentonville raise from fees and utilities?

Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $33.05 million, 21.2% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%). Revenue of government-owned utilities (water, electricity, gas or transit) added $100.74 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bentonville spend on police?

Bentonville's city government spent $15.29 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $264 per resident (the 108th lowest of 582) and 6.9% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bentonville spend on fire protection?

Fire protection cost $16.75 million, $289 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much debt does Bentonville have?

At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Bentonville's city government owed $107.29 million in long-term debt, $1,854 per resident (the 239th lowest of 582). During the year it issued $53.89 million of new long-term debt and repaid $21.85 million.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Bentonville pay in interest on its debt?

Interest on debt cost $2.08 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 0.9% of total spending.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How has the Bentonville city budget changed?

Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident fell 4.0% from $4,622 to $4,435, spending per resident fell 4.3% to $3,857, taxes per resident rose 30.6% to $1,385.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Bentonville compares with other cities in the United States

City government total revenue per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bentonville ranks 99 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2022
96Bristol$4,683
97Kansas City$4,679
98Denton$4,654
99Bentonville$4,622
100Gainesville$4,605
101Weymouth Town$4,592
102Malden$4,578
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bentonville ranks 134 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2022
131Decatur$4,098
132Orlando$4,053
133Savannah$4,046
134Bentonville$4,031
135St. Louis$3,995
136San Antonio$3,973
137Santa Barbara$3,931
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bentonville ranks 302 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2022
299Royal Oak$1,065
300Oak Park$1,063
301Ocala$1,062
302Bentonville$1,061
303Waukesha$1,060
304Salinas$1,059
305Omaha$1,054
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bentonville ranks 641 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2022
638Fulshear$210
639Clarksville$210
640West Des Moines$209
641Bentonville$209
642Bellflower$209
643Brownsville$209
644Olathe$208
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bentonville ranks 436 of 731, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022
433Homestead$1,543
434Salinas$1,542
435Yuba City$1,542
436Bentonville$1,537
437Euless$1,530
438Sioux Falls$1,528
439Duluth$1,526
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bentonville ranks 667 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022
664Cathedral City18.1%
665Porterville18.1%
666Lacey18.0%
667Bentonville17.8%
668Lakewood17.5%
669Broken Arrow17.5%
670Phoenix17.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))

Bentonville ranks 513 of 730, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022
510Port St. Lucie12.4%
511Burbank12.4%
512Oxnard12.4%
513Bentonville12.3%
514Monterey Park12.3%
515St. Cloud12.3%
516Bend12.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bentonville ranks 128 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total revenue per resident, 2024
125Tallahassee$4,527
126Anderson$4,503
127Weymouth Town$4,458
128Bentonville$4,435
129Portland$4,429
130Savannah$4,414
131Dallas$4,400
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bentonville ranks 162 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity government total spending per resident, 2024
159Hollywood$3,907
160Charlotte$3,880
161Fayetteville$3,877
162Bentonville$3,857
163Rock Hill$3,836
164Dothan$3,825
165Richland$3,823
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bentonville ranks 167 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity taxes collected per resident, 2024
164Asheville$1,389
165Euless$1,389
166Fort Myers$1,387
167Bentonville$1,385
168Long Beach$1,384
169Clearwater$1,380
170Houston$1,376
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bentonville ranks 475 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity spending on police per resident, 2024
472St. Louis Park$266
473Little Elm$265
474Moreno Valley$265
475Bentonville$264
476Pflugerville$264
477Kingsport$262
478Mission Viejo$261
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bentonville ranks 344 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityCity long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024
341Perth Amboy$1,876
342Downers Grove$1,876
343Southfield$1,859
344Bentonville$1,854
345Fairfield$1,853
346Reading$1,853
347Bozeman$1,843
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bentonville ranks 531 of 580, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityProperty tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024
528Birmingham17.4%
529Lakewood17.4%
530Gilbert17.4%
531Bentonville17.2%
532Phoenix17.1%
533Kansas City16.9%
534Scottsdale16.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))

Bentonville ranks 338 of 582, highest first. City government only: in many cities schools, transit, water or other services are run by separate governments or the county, so totals are not like-for-like. Per resident figures use the population the Census finance file gives each government. Governments whose figures were mostly imputed by the Census Bureau are left out. The government of Washington, DC, also carries out the functions of a state.

RankCityFederal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024
335Smyrna15.7%
336Fort Myers15.7%
337Boise City15.7%
338Bentonville15.6%
339Torrance15.6%
340Brooklyn Park15.5%
341Davenport15.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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Sources

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