City Council reviews list of proposals

Bond referendum slated in Fayetteville on April 9

FAYETTEVILLE — Residents can expect new police and fire stations, road and drainage improvement, a civic space downtown and millions of dollars in other capital projects with approval of the bond issues they’ll see this spring.

The City Council reviewed a proposed list of needs and the dollar amounts associated with them during its meeting Tuesday. The nine items, plus an item to refinance the outstanding sales tax bonds of about $12 million, will appear as separate issues for voters to consider April 9.

The vote is to renew the city’s 1-cent sales tax to pay for capital projects. Voters approved the previous bond issue in 2006.

The council will consider the request for the special election at its next meeting Tuesday. Voters will be asked to renew the tax in order to issue bonds not exceeding $226,065,000, according to city documents.

Total cost on all the projects is $202,500,000. Chief Financial Paul Becker said the difference is necessary in case the city needs to put in more reserve requirements or if interest rates change from what’s anticipated.

“We have the opportunity of asking the citizens what they want to support with no increase in taxes,” he said. “That’s very important to understand. We’d still be paying the same sales tax rate we’re paying today, and we could move forward with these capital projects we couldn’t afford in any other way.”

The biggest chunk — $70 million — would go to road improvement. Projects include the missing segment of Rupple Road to complete

the mayor’s box and implementing the recommendations of the ongoing U.S. 71B corridor study.

Also, $35 million would go to police facilities. Building a police headquarters has sat on the city’s list of unfunded projects for about 13 years.

Police Chief Greg Tabor said the department has looked at a few places in the city to build, but first it needs the money.

“It’s something that’s very needed,” he said. “We just don’t have adequate space.”

The $15 million proposed for firefighting facilities would have a new fire station go up on the west side of town, possibly near Deane Street and Porter Road. Fire Chief David Dayringer said it would enable the department to get under the 4-minute drive time threshold it seeks throughout the city.

“There are some spots on the west side of town right now we can’t get to with a 4-minute drive time,” he said.

Plans for a cultural arts corridor downtown are in the schematic design phase, Sustainability Director Peter Nierengarten said. The city has held a few rounds of public input, with more on the way, to get resident feedback on how best to spend the $30 million proposed for construction.

“It’s an investment in a world-class civic space that’ll help bring vitality and enhancement to downtown Fayetteville,” he said.

Becker said the goal is to pay off the debt in 16 years. However, it’s possible the city could pay it off in 12 years, or fewer with growth, he said.

Rogers voters passed a $299.5 million bond referendum in August. Springdale extended its 1-cent sales tax in February to pay for a $224.6 million in bond issues.