Little Rock, AR vs Fort Smith, AR

Little Rock, AR spends 26% more per resident than Fort Smith, AR: $17,625 against $14,015. That gap is large enough to show up across most functional budget categories below.

Little Rock, AR holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 87/100 (grade A) against 69/100 (grade B) for Fort Smith, AR — a 18-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.

Little Rock, AR reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Fort Smith, AR carries $1,000 per resident. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Little Rock, AR at $2,054 per resident and in Fort Smith, AR at $549.

They also fund themselves differently: intergovernmental transfers is the largest single revenue source in Little Rock, AR at 25% of total revenue, whereas Fort Smith, AR relies most on other revenue at 13%.