Farmington, Greenland special elections Tuesday

FAYETTEVILLE — Voters in Greenland and Farmington will decide Tuesday whether to approve 1 percent sales and use taxes.

Monday is the last day to early vote at the Washington County Courthouse. As of Friday, nine people cast ballots in the special elections, said Jennifer Price, election commission executive director, in email.

Voters from either city can cast ballots Tuesday at voting centers in Farmington and Greenland. Paper ballots are only available for early voting. Votes will be cast electronically on election day, said Becky Lewallen, county clerk.

Greenland city leaders said a 1 percent sales tax increase is expected to bring in about $120,000 a year and pay for a bond for about $1.5 million in wastewater system improvement.

About 350 homes are on the system, but the city doesn’t have the capacity to add to the system, Mayor Bill Groom said. The system must be fixed to save residents money long term and to handle Greenland’s growth, he said.

“Until we address our sewer needs, we won’t be able to enjoy growth like the rest of Northwest Arkansas does,” Groom said.

The new tax revenue will pay for construction improvements to the city’s wastewater collection and transmission system, according to information filed with the County Clerk’s office. The tax sunsets when the bonds are paid off, city officials said.

Greenland has a 2 percent city sales and use tax. If the 1 percent increase is approved, the total sales tax rate in the city would be 10.75 percent. The new tax would take effect at the end of this year, Groom said.

Farmington city officials want voters to replace a 1 percent tax that expires in October. The tax brings in roughly $688,000 and has been used to pay for a sewer bond, Melissa McCarville, city business manager, has said.

The city plans to take out a maximum of $5.1 million in bonds for improvement to streets, parks and recreation, according to ballot information. The new tax would go into effect Oct. 1 and be permanent.

If Farmington voters approve, half the revenue from the newly established tax will pay off the bonds and the other half will be used for the city’s general operations.

When the street and park bonds are paid off, the revenue would go into the general fund and could be used for other projects, city leaders said. Mayor Ernie Penn has explained that the sales tax is not an increase because it replaces a tax set to expire.

Farmington has a 2 percent sales tax for a total sales tax rate of 9.75 percent.