Harrison voters Tuesday approved two two sales tax measures that will finance the construction of a community/aquatic center and fund the operation of the city’s park system.
Unofficial results show the first sales tax proposal, a 0.25% sales and use tax to support the operation of the city’s park system, passing 917-638. Unofficial results show the second proposal, a 0.25% sales tax to support $20 million in bonds that will be issued to build the Creekside Community Center, passing 918-635.
The 0.25% percent sales tax to build the community center will sunset in 18 to 20 years, based on sales tax projections. The other 0.25% tax is a permanent addition to the city’s sales tax collections. The 0.5% total increase in the city’s sales tax collections will result in an additional 50 cents in taxes on every $100 spent.
This was Harrison’s second attempt at passing 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 approved Tuesday drops 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.
The community center will 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 community center/aquatic facility 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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