Arkansas voters will decide more than candidate races when they go to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3. Depending on where they live, ballots will include questions about local borrowing, sales taxes, emergency services and the structure of city government.
The proposals described for Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley include financial questions involving hundreds of millions of dollars. Some would authorize borrowing for infrastructure while using existing sales tax rates, while others would ask voters to approve additional taxes or fees.
Rogers bond questions total $457.25 million
Rogers voters will consider six separate bond questions totaling $457.25 million. The package would cover streets and stormwater work, parks, fire facilities, police facilities and animal services, as well as refinancing existing bonds.
- $195.5 million for streets and stormwater
- $118 million to refinance existing bonds
- $81.5 million for parks and recreation
- $32.75 million for fire facilities
- $20.75 million for police facilities
- $8.75 million for animal services
The Rogers questions are tied to the future use of a 1% sales tax. The proposals would use existing sales tax rates to finance new infrastructure projects, rather than asking voters to approve a higher current rate.
Other communities consider taxes and services
Rogers is not the only community with major financial questions on the ballot. In Siloam Springs, officials also are proposing to use existing sales tax rates to finance infrastructure projects. In Little Flock and Eureka Springs, voters will consider additional taxes.
Other ballot questions involve ambulance service, volunteer fire departments and changes to the way city governments are organized. The issues range from projects requiring large amounts of borrowing to fees or taxes that could affect residents in smaller amounts over time.
The distinction between authorizing spending and increasing a tax rate is relevant to several of the proposals. Some questions would allow communities to finance projects through existing revenue sources, while others would change the amount residents pay through new or extended taxes, according to the ballot overview.
Voters will make the decisions in the communities where the questions appear on Tuesday. The measures cover roads, water and wastewater systems, public safety facilities, parks and local government operations.
