Bentonville sales-tax collections up nearly 16 percent from last year
Posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/60056/
BENTONVILLE — City tax collections are up nearly 16 percent from this time last year, according to a report City Finance Director Denise Land gave before the Bentonville City Council on Tuesday night.
For sales taxes from January, collected by the city in March, total revenues were slightly more than $ 1. 9 million. “ We are now up 15. 9 percent from last year, ” Land said.
Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin said the increase in Bentonville’s sales-tax revenue is greater than in some other northwest Arkansas cities. Rogers had a 6 percent increase and Fayetteville saw a 5 percent increase. Springdale’s sales-tax revenue was down 5 percent.
McCaslin said the city was “ not privileged to the detail” explaining the increase in sales taxes, and that when looking at figures from years past, trends should not be expected. “ I think what you’re going to find is surprises, ” McCaslin said.
In other business, the council approved the following items:
• A rezoning from single-family residential (R-1 ) to neighborhood commercial (C-1 ) for 1312 E. Central Ave., requested by Lola J. Cavness;
• A rezoning from R-1 to residential office (R-O ) for 510 S. W. E St., requested by Jason and Patricia Moore;
• An electrical-easement vacation at 301 S. E. J St., requested by Wal-Mart Stores Inc.;
• A water-easement vacation at 301 S. E. J St., requested by Wal-Mart Stores Inc.;
• The destruction of records in off-site storage from the year 2000;
• A budget adjustment for the purchase of four lateral storage files that are needed for storage of the more current files to be housed in the clerk’s office;
• A resolution authorizing an amendment of a professionalservices contract with Crafton, Tull and Sparks Consulting Engineers for preparation of five additional temporary construction easements at $ 100 each and bidding and construction administration on the Bland Valley Drainage Project on an hourly basis per the attached fee schedule, not to exceed $ 23, 000;
• A change order for the Downtown Square Enhancement Project Phase 2, adding pay items for 1-inch meter sets, a 16-inch water-line easement and a 12-inch water-line easement;
• The award of a bid to Truck Centers of Arkansas in the amount of $ 80, 295 for a 2009 model Freightliner M 2 106 V 4 x 4 two-ton dump truck;
• The award of a bid to Scott Construction Equipment Co. in the amount of $ 71, 447. 89 for a 2008 model Case 590 Super M backhoe; and
• The recommendation of an award of a bid for refurbishing the city’s 50-meter pool and children’s pool to J & H Contractors in an amount of $ 22, 403. 10.
The council tabled the following:
• An easement vacation at 1706 N. W. Autumn Ave., requested by Robert and Rebecca Fields. The request was tabled at the recommendation of planning staff to gather additional information.