10/08/2026
Fort Smith. August 2026.
$17.9 million worth of construction projects were permitted in the Fort Smith metro. 353 permits issued in Fort Smith in one month. Up 47.5% compared to August 2025.
One important note: that $17.9 million is the estimated value of the construction projects being built, not the amount the city collected in fees. A $10 million permitted project means a $10 million building going up, not $10 million in the city budget. The actual permit fees collected are a much smaller figure.
But what that construction activity does generate is significant:
New construction increases property values, which increases property tax revenue. That tax base funds the roads, schools, parks, fire stations, and public services that make Fort Smith livable. $154.3 million in permitted construction activity through August 2026 in Fort Smith means the city's tax base is expanding.
A city with this level of construction activity is not in decline. It is growing its tax base, expanding its housing supply, and building the infrastructure that supports a larger population.
What does a growing city mean for the people who already live there?
