FC voters asked to keep sales tax for bond projects
Fewer registered voters eligible to cast ballots beginning April 6
Registered Forrest City voters will begin casting ballots next week on a sales tax proposal to fund over $17.5 million in projects across the city.
Early voting begins Tuesday, April 6, at the St. Francis County Courthouse, with the election scheduled for Tuesday, April 13.
Voters are being asked to allow the city to continue collecting a .0625% sales tax that was first approved in 2013.
This tax is set to expire on July 1. If voters agree to extend the sales tax, collection would begin in October, giving shoppers a three-month window of not paying the .625% sales tax.
When the tax expires in July, the city’s tax rate would decrease to 1.25% of which 1% is dedicated to paying for solid waste and .25% is for city parks.
The St. Francis County Extension Service, in conjunction with the agency’s public policy staff in Little Rock, has created a six-page document outlining each of the sales tax issues.
“The purpose for this document is to help get the information out there,” said SFC Extension Service Staff Chair Karley Mishler. “As a researchbased organization, we try to provide as much information as possible, representing both sides. We spoke with those opposed to the bond issue as well as those in favor of it.”
Mishler said anyone who wants a copy of the document is welcome to stop by the Extension Service located on the south end of the courthouse.
City officials estimate the sales tax would generate about $1.3 million each year to repay the bonds estimated to cost a total of $19.6 million.
In 2013, voters were asked to approve a 1-cent sales tax. Of that tax, .625% was used to fund city projects listed as 12 issues on the ballot, along with .25% as a permanent tax to fund parks and recreation. The 2013 proposal also included a 1.25% tax to serve as an incentive for economic development, which was never enacted.
In the 2013 election, less than 12 percent, which represents about 724 of the city’s 6,237 registered voters at that time, cast ballots, approving all 12 issues on the ballot.
According to the St. Francis County Clerk’s office, the number of registered voters in Forrest City has declined to 5,447, which is 790 fewer than the number eligible to vote in 2013.
The 2013 ballot included nearly the same list of improvements, such as streets, parks and recreation, drainage, fire and police, water, sewer, solid waste and the early warning system.
Money from that tax was been used to construct a new city hall, two pools at the Sports Complex, a fire substation and some smaller projects. However, some of the projects listed, and approved in the original bond issue, were not completed, such as a running/walking track at the Sports Complex and a facility to serve as a site for solid waste collection and disposal.
(Continued from Page 1) The ballot on this sales tax election includes 11 separate issues on which city officials say they intend to make improvements if the tax is passed. These 11 issues also include improvements to the water system, streets, police and fire departments, drainage, sewer and parks and recreation. Newer items on this proposal include street lighting, street scape, library and animal control improvements. An amphitheater and dog park, discussed at previous meetings on the bond issue, are no longer included in the bond package.