HS ad commission endorses extension of sales tax for roads
The Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission last Monday voted to endorse a ballot issue that, if approved by voters on Feb. 8, would extend the existing 0.625% countywide sales tax through June 2027, creating a new revenue stream to repair and replace county and city maintained roads and bridges.
The five members in attendance at the meeting, Wayne Smith, Elizabeth Farris, Paul Lynch, Erin Holliday and Anthony Valinoti, voted in favor of the endorsement; Commissioners Elaine Jones and Chris Dunkel were absent.
The endorsement stated the following:
“The Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion Commission supports the continuation of the 0.625 percent sales tax for five more years that was originally passed in 2016 to improve our roads. This tax extension, not a new tax, will rebuild many of the 1,000 miles of streets, roads and bridges in Garland County, improving our roadways in years not decades.
“The positive impact that improved roads will have on our citizens and visitors will be immediate as we continue to bring our infrastructure up to date. Hot Springs and Garland County continue to take the right steps to ensure the future of our community. Vote ‘For’ this proposal on February 8.”
The endorsement came on the same day the formation of the Our Roads Now Committee to support passage of the sales tax at the special election was announced at The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce.
The Garland County TEA Party has expressed concern over the timing of the election, explaining that the February date facilitates a “friends and family” election designed to lim
it turnout. Fewer than 12% of the county’s more than 60,000 registered voters cast ballots in the June 2016 special election that authorized the first extension of the sales tax.
According to George Pritchett, a former justice of the peace who helps run the local TEA Party, the TEA Party opposes all special elections.
Holding the special election in February, rather than the May preferential primaries/ nonpartisan judicial election or the November general election, when turnout would be higher, will ease the burden on businesses collecting the tax, Hot Springs City Manager Bill Burrough said at the public forum the For Our Roads Now committee held Thursday night at the Garland County Library.
“I believe the continuation of this tax is critical to the continued success of the City of Hot Springs, Garland County and our tourism industry,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison told the commissioners, according to a news release issued after the commission meeting.
“Our aging infrastructure can prevent our community from prospering in the future. We have addressed water issues, wastewater, the jail, and now it is time to fix our roads and bridges. All of the money when this tax is continued will be used on our existing roads and bridges. None will be used to build new roads or bridges where there were none.”