Tax campaign raised $62,549

Bentonville school-millage bump a success on election day

Donations totaling more than $60,000 fueled the successful campaign for the Bentonville School District’s millage increase in May.

The 1.9-mill tax increase that voters passed May 9 will allow the school district to build four schools over the next five years. The increase also pushes the district’s millage rate to 48.5, tying it with North Little Rock for the second-highest rate in Arkansas.

It will add $38 to residents’ property taxes for every $100,000 of their home’s value starting next year.

Vote Yes for Schools 2017 raised $62,549, about 80 percent of which came from six donors. The campaign committee spent $58,845, according to its last finance report filed June 14.

Jim Walton of Bentonville gave $10,000, as did Flintco and Aramark, two companies that do business or have done business with the district. Flintco is a construction company that built West High School. Aramark just entered the fifth year of a five-year contract as the district’s food service provider.

Hight Jackson Associates, an architectural firm based in Rogers, and Milestone Construction Co. of Springdale both contributed $7,500. Crossland Construction Co., based in Columbus, Kan., and Nabholz Construction Co., based in Conway, both gave $5,000.

Lifetouch National School Studios, a photography firm based in Eden Prairie, Minn., donated $3,000.

Most donations from individuals came from people associated either with the district or the city of Bentonville, campaign finance reports show. Superintendent Debbie Jones gave $500. Board member Eric White, who led the campaign, also gave $500.

Board members Matt Burgess gave $300, and Rebecca Powers and Brent Leas each contributed $100. Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin and Aldermen Octavio Sanchez and Chris Sooter gave $100 each.

Vote Yes for Schools 2017 started this year with about $900 left over from the 2013 campaign to build the district’s second high school, according to Dana Davis, president of the Greater Bentonville Chamber of Commerce and a campaign committee member.

“I think what we found is this community strongly supports this school system and they want to make sure it remains a top school district, not only within the state but throughout the country,” Davis said.