Questions about school millage answered

Voters in the Pea Ridge School District go to the polls Tuesday to answer school officials’ request for an additional 5.1 mils on property tax. The money raised is to match $10.65 million from the State Department of Education for which Pea Ridge has been approved in partnership funds to build a new high school.

As of May 1, there were 3,812 active registered voters and 1,183 inactive registered voters for a total of 4,995 registered voters. In August 2016, there were 4,684 voters registered within the district. (An “inactive voter” is one who has not cast a ballot in two straight federal elections and failed to return repeated post cards from election officials seeking to verify voters’ addresses.)

School officials and members of the “Yes for Pea Ridge” committee compiled questions raised by area residents about the request for an additional 5.1 mils.

The millage is assessed on all property — personal and real estate, according to Roderick Grieve, Benton County assessor. “It is on both,” Grieve said, explaining that the millage is assessed on the assessed value which is 20 percent of the appraised value, or market value, of the property.

Questions most often asked, and answers from both school and city officials, are:

City questions

• What is the plan to handle traffic? The state and city will need to work together for a light and this includes funds. Is there a plan and has the city committed in writing? People are concerned that the police don’t help traffic, but just watch. So, if a light will not be in at Hayden and Pickens when the school opens, how will traffic be handled? Will the police direct traffic? People seem to want to see a traffic plan.

According to Mayor Jackie Crabtree, city officials are working with the Arkansas Highway Department (and have been for quite some time) to determine the best solution. They will also meet with engineers to look at how Weston Street intersects with Pickens to see if there is something that needs to be done there. The Police Department will help as needed.

• Will sidewalks be extended from existing sidewalks to the new high school?

According to the mayor, that will be considered.

Millage and Money

• If the partnership funds are contingent on the millage passing, why did the school district apply for funds without having their part of the partnership funded?

If the millage does not pass the partnership funds will be returned.

• What is the expected amount to be generated by the millage increase per year? $464,000

• The $8,465,000 — community generated project funds — what time period is represented by

that amount?

30 years

• Does this millage cover the projected growth across the district to over 3,000 students in the next seven to eight years (this projection was in the video on the Yespearidge website)? Or will another millage increase be asked for?

The district believes existing facilities with a new high school will accommodate that.

• If this millage does not pass, will the district try again in the fall?

No, Pea Ridge will be forced to wait until the spring of 2018 to retry. If this occurs, the partnership money is not guaranteed. Without partnership money the local tax burden will become equivalent to 12.1 mills instead of 5.1.

• How much in tax dollars comes with each school choice out-of-district student?

$5,494

Other

• Will there be an increase in elective classes with the new high school? More offerings of different type classes?

Drama, agriculture offerings, culinary arts.

• What are the city plans to increase commercial business in the community to help our millage go further?

City officials said they are continuously promoting Pea Ridge to potential businesses and have been working with local economic development companies and with the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part article; the first set of questions and answers were published April 26.