Government budget and revenue in Little Rock, Arkansas: official figures
Little Rock's city government took in $631.39 million in total revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, or $3,112 for each of its 202,864 residents (2024 figure in the finance file); per resident that is the 247th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
How much does Little Rock spend and on what?
It spent $599.77 million in the same year, $2,957 per resident, the 250th highest of 582 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey. The largest identified functions were police (15.4%), parks and recreation (10.8%) and fire protection (10.6%) of the total.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Little Rock collect per resident?
Taxes raised $221.57 million ($1,092 per resident, the 282nd highest of 582) in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 35.1% of general revenue, compared with 49.3% for all US city governments combined in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Little Rock rely on?
Of Little Rock's tax revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, property tax made up 32.1%, general sales tax 35.5%, selective sales taxes (on utilities, fuel, alcohol, tobacco, hotels and others) 28.0%. Across all US city governments in 2022, property tax made up 48.1% and general sales tax 19.8%; Little Rock's property tax share is the 137th lowest of 580 US cities of 50,000 or more with reported figures in the 2024 Census survey.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal and state money does Little Rock get?
Payments from other governments made up 21.8% of Little Rock's city government's general revenue in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023: 5.6% from the federal government ($174 per resident), 5.6% from the state and 10.6% from other local governments. For all US city governments in 2022 the aid share was 24.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Little Rock raise from fees and utilities?
Fees and charges for services such as sewerage, trash, parks and airports brought in $212.51 million, 33.7% of general revenue (all US city governments in 2022: 20.0%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Little Rock spend on police?
Little Rock's city government spent $92.22 million on police in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, $455 per resident (the 169th highest of 582) and 15.4% of its total spending; police took 10.3% of spending across all US city governments in 2022.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Little Rock spend on fire protection?
Fire protection cost $63.64 million, $314 per resident, in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does Little Rock have?
At the end of the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, Little Rock's city government owed $599.76 million in long-term debt, $2,956 per resident (the 197th highest of 582). During the year it issued $200.11 million of new long-term debt and repaid $181.15 million.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Little Rock pay in interest on its debt?
Interest on debt cost $20.29 million in the fiscal year ended 31 December 2023, 3.4% of total spending.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow has the Little Rock city budget changed?
Between the Census survey years 2022 and 2024 (not adjusted for inflation), total revenue per resident rose 2.4% from $3,039 to $3,112, spending per resident rose 0.4% to $2,957, taxes per resident fell 1.6% to $1,092.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Little Rock 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))
Little Rock ranks 223 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 220 | Naperville | $3,055 |
| 221 | Palm Desert | $3,048 |
| 222 | Grapevine | $3,040 |
| 223 | Little Rock | $3,039 |
| 224 | Council Bluffs | $3,024 |
| 225 | Sacramento | $3,024 |
| 226 | Herriman | $3,018 |
City government total spending per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Little Rock ranks 233 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 230 | Napa | $2,958 |
| 231 | Battle Creek | $2,955 |
| 232 | Torrance | $2,954 |
| 233 | Little Rock | $2,946 |
| 234 | Dothan | $2,933 |
| 235 | Lubbock | $2,929 |
| 236 | Grand Junction | $2,927 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Little Rock ranks 277 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 274 | Scranton | $1,113 |
| 275 | Savannah | $1,111 |
| 276 | Edmond | $1,111 |
| 277 | Little Rock | $1,110 |
| 278 | Glendale | $1,109 |
| 279 | Carrollton | $1,108 |
| 280 | Norman | $1,107 |
City spending on police per resident, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Little Rock ranks 186 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 183 | Battle Creek | $408 |
| 184 | Longmont | $408 |
| 185 | Southfield | $407 |
| 186 | Little Rock | $406 |
| 187 | Schaumburg | $405 |
| 188 | Pembroke Pines | $404 |
| 189 | Peoria | $404 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Little Rock ranks 287 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 284 | Muncie | $2,484 |
| 285 | Flint | $2,475 |
| 286 | Everett | $2,469 |
| 287 | Little Rock | $2,467 |
| 288 | Santa Barbara | $2,467 |
| 289 | Barnstable Town | $2,451 |
| 290 | Brownsville | $2,449 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Little Rock ranks 560 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 557 | Lodi | 29.6% |
| 558 | Woodland | 29.6% |
| 559 | Overland Park | 29.2% |
| 560 | Little Rock | 29.1% |
| 561 | Merced | 29.1% |
| 562 | Washington | 29.0% |
| 563 | Sioux Falls | 28.8% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 (Survey year 2022 (fiscal years ended July 2021 to June 2022))
Little Rock ranks 225 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| 222 | Bloomington | 25.6% |
| 223 | Overland Park | 25.5% |
| 224 | Nashua | 25.4% |
| 225 | Little Rock | 25.3% |
| 226 | Sterling Heights | 25.1% |
| 227 | Danbury | 25.1% |
| 228 | Houston | 25.0% |
City government total revenue per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Little Rock ranks 247 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.
| Rank | City | City government total revenue per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 244 | Greeley | $3,128 |
| 245 | Bloomington | $3,122 |
| 246 | Evanston | $3,115 |
| 247 | Little Rock | $3,112 |
| 248 | West Des Moines | $3,111 |
| 249 | Renton | $3,107 |
| 250 | Grand Junction | $3,095 |
City government total spending per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Little Rock ranks 250 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.
| Rank | City | City government total spending per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 247 | Houston | $2,966 |
| 248 | Greensboro | $2,964 |
| 249 | Council Bluffs | $2,964 |
| 250 | Little Rock | $2,957 |
| 251 | Carlsbad | $2,931 |
| 252 | Pittsburgh | $2,931 |
| 253 | Bellingham | $2,922 |
City taxes collected per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Little Rock ranks 282 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.
| Rank | City | City taxes collected per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 279 | Midwest City | $1,101 |
| 280 | Lawrence | $1,095 |
| 281 | Grand Forks | $1,095 |
| 282 | Little Rock | $1,092 |
| 283 | Fort Wayne | $1,092 |
| 284 | Noblesville | $1,091 |
| 285 | Des Plaines | $1,086 |
City spending on police per resident, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Little Rock ranks 169 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.
| Rank | City | City spending on police per resident, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | Peoria | $455 |
| 167 | Albuquerque | $455 |
| 168 | Houston | $455 |
| 169 | Little Rock | $455 |
| 170 | Syracuse | $450 |
| 171 | Pleasanton | $449 |
| 172 | Southfield | $449 |
City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Little Rock ranks 197 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.
| Rank | City | City long-term debt outstanding per resident, end of fiscal 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 194 | St. Paul | $2,998 |
| 195 | Oxnard | $2,975 |
| 196 | Fort Worth | $2,975 |
| 197 | Little Rock | $2,956 |
| 198 | Roanoke | $2,942 |
| 199 | New Bedford | $2,940 |
| 200 | Joliet | $2,937 |
Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Little Rock ranks 444 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.
| Rank | City | Property tax as a share of city tax revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 441 | Victorville | 33.0% |
| 442 | Detroit | 32.6% |
| 443 | Lee's Summit | 32.2% |
| 444 | Little Rock | 32.1% |
| 445 | Glendale | 32.0% |
| 446 | Galveston | 31.9% |
| 447 | Inglewood | 31.7% |
Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 (Survey year 2024 (fiscal years ended July 2023 to June 2024))
Little Rock ranks 243 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.
| Rank | City | Federal, state and local aid as a share of city general revenue, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 240 | Miami Gardens | 21.9% |
| 241 | Dearborn Heights | 21.9% |
| 242 | Cleveland | 21.9% |
| 243 | Little Rock | 21.8% |
| 244 | Greenville | 21.7% |
| 245 | Inglewood | 21.6% |
| 246 | Concord | 21.6% |
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Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every sampled government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0967c4d30466…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2022 Census of Governments: State and Local Government Finances, individual unit files (item amounts for every government, directory with population and fiscal year end, state estimates by type of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c8de889f6b33…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.