Elkins council wants special election for sales tax increase
Posted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
ELKINS - The City Council has a clean slate to work with in terms of the recent election for a proposed 1-cent sales tax to improve the city's water and sewer system.
Aldermen unanimously voted on Tuesday to repeal the ordinance it originally passed on May 15 to hold a vote regarding the tax increase during the general election. The council then re-approved the entire ordinance asking for a special election to be held on Aug. 12 for voters to decide the fate of the tax request.
Citizens will decide whether they want to levy the tax and whether it would go to purchasing bonds for a $ 6 million project to replace the 40-year-old, 8-inch line that runs from one end of the city to the other with a 14-inch line.
Some aldermen voiced some concern that the ordinance allowed the tax to revert to the city's general fund after the first set of bonds were paid off in 25 years instead of being permanently dedicated to water and sewer improvement projects.
Alderman Bruce Ledford said that while he understood the principle behind not completely dedicating the tax, he didn't think the voters would pass it if the tax wasn't always going to be for water and sewer.
"I'd like to see it earmarked all the way down," he said. "If (voters ) don't understand it, they'll vote against it."
Water and Sewer Committee chairman Mike Lemaster said the committee has $ 11 million worth of water and sewer improvement projects slated and that the pipes are "not getting any better."
Alderman Jeremy Stevens pointed out that the council could not predict the future and that in 25 years water and sewer may not be the pressing issue for the city.
"I have no doubt that the water and sewer system is going to need more money (in 25 years ), but it also might be that roads have a more pressing need at the time," he said. "The City Council at that time should be the ones to make that decision."
Stevens added that he doesn't think the public will have a problem adding a 1-cent sales tax considering Elkins has one of the lowest sales tax rates in the state. He said that in the long run all the money is "going on to better the city."
According the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Elkins is one of three cities in Washington County that has a 1-cent sales tax. Elm Springs and Lincoln are the other two. Every other city has at least a 2-cent sales tax. Prairie Grove is at 2. 25 cents.
City Attorney Danny Wright said if the tax failed, the city would have to wait six months before it could ask for another vote.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
