Sales tax vote could see lower millage in SFC

The county-wide sales tax proposal on the ballot in the election for which early voting began today will give St. Francis County residents an opportunity to decide how they want their county government to be funded. On the ballot is a proposal to allow the county to continue collecting a portion of the one cent sales tax passed by voters in December 2019 to fund construction of a new county jail. At that time, voters approved the tax, of which 5/8-cent was used fund construction of the jail. The remaining 3/8-cent funds jail maintenance and upkeep along with juvenile services. When the jail tax was originally approved, SFC Quorum Court justices lowered the county’s property tax millage rate from 4.9 to 3.9 mills. Justices have passed a resolution that would allow the millage rate to be lowered to 2.9 mills if the sales tax is allowed to continue. That jail tax was originally scheduled to sunset in the 2030, but due to increases in sales tax revenue, the jail is being paid off early and the tax is scheduled to sunset this fall. However, the county is asking voters that instead of allowing the tax to sunset to reduce it by 1/8 of a cent to 1/2 of a cent to fund county services. SFC Judge Craig Jones said the move would actually cost the county’s property owners less while allowing the county to better fund services. The 1/2-cent tax could be used to fund any county services or offices, with approval from the Quorum Court, according to Jones. “Our jail is being paid off five years earlier than expected because of the amount of sales tax revenue being generated in our county. The majority of that comes from people traveling Interstate 40 and stopping in our communities,” said Jones. “The future is bright with another motel and the truck stop out near the bypass being built. There is also talk of other things on the horizon that would help our sales tax base.” Currently, county general is funded mainly through property tax revenue. “Since 1827, counties have been funded through local taxes on property, including land, vehicles, houses, things like that,” said Jones. “What we want to do here is change that and fund county general mainly through a sales tax with the majority of that revenue coming off Interstate 40. We could not do this if we did not have I-40 running through our county. “Basically, this is a different way to tax me and you,” continued Jones. “Right now, we’re relying on the old, antiquated method of collecting property. taxes. Let’s use I-40 to help fund county services. Not only would we keep what we have now, but we could make our services better and not cost you a dime more. Matter of fact, it would cost you 1/8 of a cent less and your property millage would decrease. It’s a win, win.” Jones said if the sales tax proposal fails, the Quorum Court will likely change the millage rate back to 4.9 mills. Jones said he is open to questions about the tax proposal but wants to put some misconceptions to rest. “This is a countywide election, not a Forrest City election,” said Jones. “Everybody who lives in the county can vote for or against this. I’ve had a lot of people calling me saying they wish they could vote for it when they can. Just because you don’t live in Forrest City or the Forrest City School District does not mean you can’t vote in this election. “Basically, the Court is putting the way you get taxed into your own hands and letting you decide DEGREES residents to live here. “It don’t get no better than this,” said Jones. “You can decide to fund your government for the next 20 to 30 years without your taxes going up and that’s a really good deal.” Jones said as voters cast their ballots, they will see the sales tax proposal listed first. how you want to fund your government. They voted to put the election on the ballot and approved a resolution to remove 1 mill from the property tax millage rate if this passes,” said Jones. Jones explained that due to concerns about county general revenue, the Court has instituted a county hiring freeze and each office was required to cut their budgets 10% for this year. If this tax proposal fails, the next step could be laying people off and raising the millage back to where it was originally. “When you start cutting positions, you start cutting county services,” said Jones. Jones said that if the tax is approved, he hopes that one day the Court would completely remove the property tax millage rate. “I’d like to one day have no local millage on property taxes,” said Jones. “There are always going to be millages for services such as roads, but we could do away completely with the property tax millage, which in itself might help recruit industries and more “I’m asking you to vote yes on the first issue on the ballot,” said Jones. This special sales tax election is being held during the annual school election in which there are two contested races on the ballot for positions on the Forrest City School Board. The ballot also includes the school district’s millage rate of 32.6 mills, which is unchanged from previous years. State law requires the district’s millage to be on the ballot each year, even though the votes for the millage do not count. Jones said it is important for votes to understand a vote for the county-wide sales tax has nothing to do with the school district’s millage.

Sales tax vote could see lower millage in SFC

SFC Judge says Interstate 40 corridor helps generate funding for services

Annual Pine Tree WDA cleanup set for Saturday

FC School Board adds deputies to security coverage for district

DRAA seeks annual funds from cities and counties

Tamara Johnson

Related Posts

Annual Pine Tree WDA cleanup set for Saturday

FC School Board adds deputies to security coverage for district

DRAA seeks annual funds from cities and counties

Deadline nears to pay personal, real estate taxes

Gibson named to UA-EACC Board of Visitors

Landlords air concerns about delays in payments

FUMC Youth Fundraise for Ireland Trip

2nd Annual Community Gospel Jamboree

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Recent Posts

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Sales tax vote could see lower millage in SFC

SFC Judge says Interstate 40 corridor helps generate funding for services

RELATED POSTS

Membership Required

Related Posts

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Recent Posts

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password