Voters in 2 cities OK bond issues

Voters gave the green light Tuesday to a $224.6 million bond issue to pay for projects from roads to a new animal shelter. None of the six questions on the ballot received less than 74 percent support.

Highfill voters also went to the pollsTuesday, extending a 1-cent sales tax to refinance a bond issue to pay for water system improvements.

To pay for the Springdale bond issue, the city’s voters agreed to extend a 1-cent sales tax for 10 years past its expected expiration of eight to 10 years, Mayor Doug Sprouse has said.

The new Springdale bonds could be paid off in 15 years rather than 30 if revenue stays the same or continues to grow, he said.

Complete but unofficial vote totals are: Refunding bonds

For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,796 Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360

Streets

For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,821 Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333

Parks

For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,694 Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458

Fire Department

For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,832 Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324

Police, Court, City Hall

For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,726 Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431

Animal Shelter

For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,606 Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 551 The cost of construction for all projects proposed for the Springdale bond issue totals $179,890,000. Springdale expects the bonds to be issued in mid-July, Sprouse said.

Road work will receive the largest amount of money from the bond issue at an estimated $92,710,000.

The Springdale City Council will decide what road projects to build, but Sprouse said he thinks the first would extend Gene George Boulevard north to Wagon Wheel Road.

Springdale voters also approved spending an estimated $42,580,000 to build a criminal justice center for police and courts and to renovate the city administration building.

Springdale will also be building three fire stations for an estimated $17,635,000.

Voters in Highfill had a small turnout for its election to refinance a bond issue to pay for water system improvements.

Complete but unofficials totals are:

For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5