Mountain Home's city sales tax revenue experienced its steepest decline of 2026 in October, dropping 3.5% compared to the same month in 2025, according to figures released by Finance and Treasury Director Alma L. Clark. The city collected $601,412.08 for the month, down $21,761.67 from last October's $623,173.75.
The October sales tax disbursement reflects taxable sales made in August, as there is typically a two-month delay in collection and distribution. The decrease follows a strong September, when the city reported its highest monthly collection of the year at $653,267.31, a 3.07% increase from September 2025. However, the October figure marks Mountain Home's second decline of the year and its lowest revenue month since June.
Despite the October dip, Mountain Home remains on track to surpass the previous year’s overall sales tax collections. Through the first 10 months of 2026, the city has received $6,085,901.50, an increase of $111,288.34 or 1.86% compared to the same period in 2025. This total represents 87% of the city’s $7 million annual sales tax revenue goal, with two months of collections remaining. For context, November and December 2025 each brought in more than $590,000, suggesting the city could still meet or exceed its budget target.
Mountain Home also saw its share of Baxter County’s sales tax revenue shrink for the first time this year. The city received $295,705.75 from the county tax in October, down $4,178.38 or 1.39% from the same month the previous year. Year-to-date, however, the city’s portion of the county tax remains ahead by $122,076.16, or 4.33%.
The city's public safety sales tax, which fluctuates in proportion to the city tax, generated $225,529.53 in October, a reduction of $8,160.62 compared to a year earlier. Like the city’s other revenue sources, the public safety tax remains up year-to-date by $41,733.13 or 1.86%.
Meanwhile, the park improvement sales tax brought in $300,706.04 in October. This revenue was $86,081.09 higher than the city’s $214,624.95 bond payment for 2026. Additionally, the parks operations sales tax yielded $150,353.02 for the month.
Although the October figures reflect a temporary slowdown, Mountain Home remains positioned for continued growth in annual tax revenues, bolstered by prior gains through the year and two months of collections still to come.