City officials won’t appeal decision in tax case

CAVE SPRINGS — Officials of a northwest Arkansas city have decided not to appeal a judge’s decision to bar the city from collecting money from 2016 property taxes.

County Judge Barry Moehring’s ruling Monday will leave Cave Springs without almost $400,000. City attorney Justin Eichmann says that’s almost a quarter of the city’s annual budget.

The Benton County assessor discovered in March that the city issued a millage tax rate from 2015 instead of one from 2016.

Moehring says the city isn’t allowed to get their portion of property taxes because it didn’t certify the 2016 rate.

Councilman Randall Noblett says the city has already made budget cuts in response to the loss of money.

A legislative audit found that officials misappropriated funds and took part in financial wrong-

doing. An investigation is underway.

Medical marijuana industry group forms

LITTLE ROCK — Former Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and the chairman of Arkansas’ medical board are overseeing a new industry group representing people and corporations doing business under the new amendment legalizing medical marijuana.

McDaniel and Medical Board Chairman Dr. Steven Cathey are among the seven board members for the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Association announced on Wednesday. The association says in a news release it would be the “leading voice” for cultivators, distributors and businesses serving the medical marijuana industry.

Voters in November approved legalizing medical marijuana for patients with certain medical conditions, and the state is accepting applications for cultivators and dispensaries until Sept. 18.

The association’s acting executive director is David Couch, who headed the campaign for the medical pot measure last year.