Filing seeks refund of stricken Arkansas local project money

wireready_10-31-2017-11-28-03_00314_courtgavel
(AP) – A former Arkansas lawmaker is asking a judge to order
a planning and development district to refund money it received to pay for local projects after the state Supreme Court ruled a series of grants violated the state constitution.Former state Rep. Mike Wilson on Monday asked a Pulaski County judge to order the Central Arkansas Planning and Development district to refund $2.5 million to the state treasury, with a third of that to go toward his attorney fees. Wilson also asked that the district pay more than $4,500 in plaintiffs’ costs.

The state Supreme Court in early October ruled that the local project grants violated a constitutional requirement that budget measures distinctly state their purpose. Justices didn’t say, however, whether those grants defied a ban on strictly local legislation.

WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI