The date for a special election for levying a sales and use tax for expansion and operation of the county jail has been moved. The action came Tuesday evening by the Baxter County Quorum Court.
With no discussion from the quorum court members or the audience, it took just 17 minutes for the court to move procedurally through four ordinances concerning the jail expansion and operation. Voters will consider levying a countywide one cent sales and use tax for eight months beginning March 1, 2018. Net proceeds from the tax would be used to expand the Baxter County Detention Center, as well as furnish and equip the new portion, and provide for the operation and maintenance of the jail. Voters will also be asked to consider levying a countywide one-quarter cent sales and use tax beginning November 1, 2018, following the expiration of the one cent sales and use tax. The one-quarter cent tax would be ongoing. The remaining two ordinances deal with the timing of the election, which was amended from October 10 to September 12 to coincide with an ordinance passed Thursday evening by the Mountain Home City Council calling for a levy of a 3/8 percent sales and use tax that would benefit the city’s fire and police departments.
Without the amended date, voters were set to go to the polls three times within 28 days, with the annual school election sandwiched between the two public safety referendums.
The court’s approval was unanimous, with justice Bill Lucas absent.
In other business, it was the court’s consideration of a resolution supporting the Marketplace Fairness and Remote Transactions Parity Act for the collection of sales tax from out-of-state online retailers that drew the most discussion from the court and failed to gain passage. County judges across the state have been requested to bring the resolution before their quorum courts to gather feedback. Questions and concerns included how will the collection process work, who will collect the funds, and how much is expected to be generated.
The measure failed to gain passage with just three justices, James Kerr, Neal Pendergrass and Lucy Soltysik, voting in favor.
The court also approved six resolutions in support of an effort by Midway Industries, a metal working shop located in the industrial park. Midway Industries employs 12 people and is proposing an expansion of almost $600,000 that could lead to 12 new positions. The expansion proposal calls for $355,000 in materials. With approved resolutions from the quorum court, Midway Industries could apply for the Arkansas Department of Economic Developments Tax Back Program. With state approval, Midway Industries would then be eligible for a refund from the sales and use taxes paid on the materials.
The county’s amended personnel policy manual was placed on the third and final reading and adopted unanimously.
The court approved an appropriation of over $10,000 in state grant funds to the Clarkridge Volunteer Fire Department that will be used for extrication equipment.
Transfer of $146,000 in funding for the 9-1-1 department budget was approved for technology upgrades.
A vacancy in the District Three JP seat was declared that will allow Governor Hutchinson to fill the opening.
Appointments of Mike Hunter and David McQueen were confirmed to the Hand Cove Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners, and Terry Buchman’s appointment to the Northeast Lakeside Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners was approved.
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