Garland County panel votes to advance public safety tax

HOT SPRINGS — It took three minutes for the Garland County Quorum Court Finance Committee to advance a resolution of support of a 1-mill public safety tax on Monday.

The resolution advanced on a 3-2 vote, with all three Democrats on the Quorum Court voting in the affirmative after no discussion or debate from the committee or solicitation of public comment.

Districts 10 and 11 Justices of the Peace Debbie McGrew and Ronald Hunter, both Republicans, opposed the resolution.

McGrew was part of the unanimous contingent that released the resolution from the Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee last month.

The full Quorum Court will consider the resolution at its May 13 meeting.

The tax can’t be levied until November, when justices of the peace levy taxes for cities and schools along with the 1.2 mills that support the county general fund.

County Judge Darryl Mahoney said knowing the tax will be levied later in the year gives him assurance to use nonrecurring, pandemic relief funds to begin hiring the 16 new public safety positions requested by him, the sheriff’s office and prosecuting attorney’s office.

Quorum courts can levy up to 5 mills of property tax without a vote of the people.

The federal funds would pay for the positions through the end of the year, with recurring revenue from the tax paying for the $1.44 million the new employees’ salaries, benefits and equipment are projected to add to next year’s budget.

The county forecast the tax would collect more than $2.3 million annually.

Five justices of the peace who aren’t on the Finance Committee attended Monday, including Micah Braughton, R-District 1.

“Private property tax is the worst kind of tax you can possibly have,” said the firstterm justice of the peace whose district includes the north Hot Springs city limits and U.S. 70 east corridor.

“Our right to own property, see how long you own it if you don’t pay that property tax. You don’t. You’re renting.”