Early voting is now open in Harrison regarding two proposed sales tax increases that would finance the construction of a community/aquatic center and fund the operation of the city’s park system.
Harrison residents are being asked May 11 to approve a total of 0.5% in sales taxes — a 0.25% tax to fund a $20 million bond issue to construct the Creekside Community Center and another 0.25% tax to fund the maintenance and operation of the city’s park facilities. A 0.5% increase would result in an additional 50 cents in taxes on every $100 spent.
Early voting opened this morning at the Boone County Election Center, located at 414 W. Central Avenue, and will continue through Monday. Hours for early voting are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with no voting on Saturday or Sunday.
On Tuesday, May 11, polling sites will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Election Center and at Woodland Heights Baptist Church, located at 1001 Gipson Road.
Votes will be tabulated at the Election Center once the polls close Tuesday, May 11.
The 0.25% percent sales tax to build he Creekside Community Center would sunset in 18 to 20 years, based on sales tax projections. The other 0.25% tax would be permanent addition to the city’s sales tax collections.
This will be Harrison’s second attempt at passing a sales tax proposals to build and fund a community center. Voters in 2019 rejected a larger, $40 million proposal that included an outdoor water park in addition to the proposed aquatic/community center. In that election, the city was asking for a 0.75% sales tax for construction and a 0.25% sales tax for operations and maintenance.
The 2021 proposal has dropped the water park but still includes an indoor competition swimming pool, a therapy pool and a children’s pool as part of the community center design.
If approved by voters, the community center would be built on the old Harrison Junior High School property and incorporate some the existing school buildings, including the gymnasium. The project would also include 2.5 miles of paved, lighted trail extensions and improvements to the city’s sports complex, which has four baseball fields.
On March 9, Mountain Home voters approved a 0.5% sales tax to build a $38.6 million multipurpose/aquatic center and improve the city’s parks. At the same special election, it also approved a permanent 0.25% sales tax to fund the city’s parks department.
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