One week after Baxter County voters overwhelmingly gave their approval to two sales tax initiatives for expansion of the Baxter County Detention Center and funding for its ongoing overhead, county officials were in Little Rock conferring with state officials to address what has been described as a “glitch” with the ordinances leading to the special election.
Karen Hopper has the story.
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On September 12, 70 percent of those voting in the special elecion gave their approval to a one cent sales and use tax for eight months beginning March 1, 2018. Net proceeds from the tax would fund the expansion of the Baxter County Detention Center, as well as furnish and equip the new portion, and provide for the operation and maintenance of the jail.
At the same time, 67 percent of the voters were in favor of a 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 will be ongoing.
The content of both ballot measures was driven by ordinances approved by the quorum court in July .
With voter approval, county officials were gearing up to move forward with the next step in their plan when they received word from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration of what County Judge Mickey Pendergrass is calling a “glitch” in the ordinances that referred the measure to the voters.
DF&A Assistant Revenue Commissioner with Policy and Legal, Paul Gehring, told KTLO, Classic Hits and the Boot county government officials were advised after the election collection of a sales tax at a local jurisdiction may only begin and end on a calendar quarter. Asked what this means for the just passed initiative, Gehring says it will be up to county government to determine how to proceed.
Both County Attorney David Ethredge and Sheriff John Montgomery deferred comment to Judge Pendergrass. In a prepared statement to KTLO, Classic Hits and the Boot, Judge Pendergrass says, “After exciting results from the special election on September 12, 2017, Baxter County is thrilled about the future. After presenting a very well thought out plan to all the voters of Baxter County and encouraging all registered voters to participate, the voters have overwhelmingly supported the plan we presented to expand and properly budget for the Baxter County Jail. I would give a big thank you on behalf of Baxter County for all the strong support for the safety and security of our future plans and we have every intention of caring them out as presented and supported by the people who participated in this election. The vote has now been certified and we will move forward with the next step of our plan as laid out for the citizens.
After the results became known, I was notified of a glitch in our Ordinances that sent this issue to the people in a special election. We have met with officials of DF&A and our legal counsel about this issue this past week, and will continue that conversation to solve what we believe is a fairly easy fix by the Quorum Court. As we gather more information and counsel about out best available choices, we will present that to the Quorum Court ASAP and give more details to the public. At the present time, we will continue to move forward as we have been instructed and encouraged by the voters of Baxter County to carry out this plan.”
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