Property tax increase fails in special election
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Voters in the Bentonville School District voted against increasing property taxes to fund an expected $ 209 million in new facilities in a special election Tuesday.
With a voter turnout of 17. 5 percent, 2, 435 people (59 percent ) voted against the increase while 1, 699 (41 percent ) voted in favor.
The additional 3. 99 mills of property taxes would have brought the district’s millage rate to 44. 09 mills, the seventh-highest in the state. The additional money would have been used to build six schools within the next five years and to upgrade existing facilities and implement new technology in the district.
Bentonville has been one of the state’s fastest-growing school districts for the past few years, gaining 841 students for the current school year, an increase of 7. 5 percent. The district gained 1, 100 students for 2005-06.
An additional 1, 500 elementary students are expected to increase enrollment numbers during the next three years as incoming kindergarten classes exceed the number of graduating seniors.
One mill generates $ 1 of taxes for every $ 1, 000 of assessed valuation. A property’s assessed valuation is equal to 20 percent of its appraised value.
The proposed Bentonville increase of 3. 99 mills would have added $ 159. 60 a year in additional taxes to a house valued at $ 200, 000.
Around the state, voters in four of eight school districts approved property-tax increases, with most of the districts planning to renovate aging buildings or erect new ones to accommodate growth.
Benton, Norphlet, Cabot and Viola schools will move forward with construction projects, while Harrison, Bentonville and Twin Rivers districts will begin talks with state officials on how to address the districts’ most pressing needs.
The districts where proposals failed will be contacted by state officials in the next 10 days to begin looking at how those districts will move forward with facility improvements that are necessary to comply with state-required master plans, state education officials said.
Act 996 of 2007 for the first time authorizes the state to step in when school districts fail to pass on a first try any tax increases necessary to comply with each district’s master plan for facilities.
All Arkansas districts must develop facilities master plans to ensure schools meet state adequacy or suitability requirements and can accommodate projected enrollment growth.
Those rules are among those passed in response to the 2002 Arkansas Supreme Court decision that found the state’s public education system — including buildings — is inequitable.
If an additional property tax increase fails, then the state’s intervention becomes more heavy-handed. Districts could be forced to cut athletics and other activities that aren’t considered essential for an adequate education. The state can replace superintendents and school boards, and ultimately, can consolidate districts.
Unofficial results from county clerks were as follows: Voters in the Benton district approved a 6. 5-mill increase to raise the rate from 35. 4 mills to 41. 9 mills. The district sought the increase primarily to renovate all of its schools. For....................... 1, 901 Against.................. 1, 734 The Cabot district approved a 3. 9-mill increase to raise the rate to from 36 mills to 39. 9 mills. The district sought the increase for construction projects. For....................... 1, 190 Against.................. 1, 086 Harmony Grove School District in Saline County rejected a 2. 3-mill tax increase to raise the rate from 39. 4 mills to 41. 7 mills. The district sought the increase to start a football program. For........................ 472 Against................... 482
Voters in the Harrison district rejected a 2. 6-mill increase to raise the tax rate from 34. 3 mills to 36. 9 mills. The increase was to construct new classrooms at its four elementary schools. For......................... 558 Against.................. 1, 720 Voters in the Norphlet district approved a 5-mill increase to raise the rate from 37 mills to 42 mills. The district sought the funds to update electrical and plumbing in its two buildings. For......................... ™ Against..................... 85
Voters in the Twin Rivers district in Randolph and Sharp counties rejected a 9-mill increase to raise the rate 31. 09 mills to 40. 09 mills. The district sought the funds to build a new school for kindergarten through 12 th grade. For......................... 141 Against................... 464
Voters in the Viola district approved a 10. 8-mill increase to raise the rate from 29. 82 to 40. 62. The increase is to add 18 classrooms and a physicaleducation facility to the high school. For......................... 351 Against................... 464 Information for this article was contributed by Evie Blad of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Jamie Brunk of the Benton County Daily Record.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
