Copyright Arkansas Online
While there are no statewide races up for grabs on Nov. 18, lots of local issues dot the ballot for voters to decide. At least 15 cities and counties, including Conway and Sherwood, have ballot measures ranging from bond issues for municipal construction to sales tax renewals. Early voting starts Nov. 12. Conway has six bond and tax items going before voters, all dedicated to municipal projects. If all proposals are approved, Conway's sales and use tax rate would increase from 1.75% to 2.5%, meaning an additional 75 cents in city taxes on every $100 that is spent. The ballot measures in Conway are: • Music venue bonds: If approved, the city would issue $52,950,000 in bonds to pay for building an outdoor musical venue, with a shared 0.375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt. • Convention center bonds: This proposal seeks $30,965,000 in bonds to pay for building a city convention center, with a shared 0.375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt. • Grand Theater bonds: The measure would allow the city to spend $11,060,000 to purchase and renovate the former Grand Theater into an arts venue, with a shared 0.375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt, • Lake Conway boardwalk bonds: The city would issue $11,060,000 in bonds to make improvements at Lake Conway, with a shared 0.375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt if approved. • Public safety capital improvements tax: This proposed tax increase would add a .25% sales tax, with the money designated for public safety equipment, including fire trucks. • Streets and drainage capital improvements tax: This measure would bump sales taxes 0.125% with the proceeds going to Conway streets, roads and drainage improvements. The measures are being backed fully by the Conway Chamber of Commerce, which is pushing the "Pick Six for Conway" campaign seeking voter support. The chamber's 2024 Business Executive of the Year, Osmar Garcia, said the measures, if passed, will set the city on a good course for decades. "This will launch us into the next quarter century just as the decisions made 25, 50 years ago have impacted us today," said Garcia, a financial planner. The Conway Firefighters Local 4016 is backing the proposed public safety improvement tax, saying it could help the city buy new equipment and facilities. It could also help increase firefighter pay, the group said. The group isn't taking a stand on the other issues. "Competitive pay will help recruit and maintain the very best firefighters, and appropriate staffing and equipment will give us the best chance to save lives and property and to hopefully get our firefighters home to their families after each tour of duty," the union said in a Facebook post. Former Conway City Councilman Mark Vaught, on Facebook, said private investment, tax rebates and federal grants are a better alternative to the bonds and sales taxes being proposed. "If I learned one thing in my time on the Conway City Council, it is that there are ALWAYS funding alternatives to raising taxes," Vaught said. "You've just gotta want it more than you want higher taxes." Sherwood voters are being asked to decide three bond issues: • Refunding of existing bonds: This measure would authorize the city to issue $4,100,000 in bonds to pay off debt from bonds issued in 2018 and 2023. • Park improvement bonds: If approved, the city could issue $79,800,000 in bonds to pay for park improvements, including restrooms, landscaping and athletic fields. • Animal shelter improvement bonds: The city would be able to issue $11,500,000 in bonds to pay for building an animal shelter if the measure is approved. Julann Carney, a Realtor and property manager in Sherwood, said the plans for the money raised by the bonds are ill considered and add too much to the bills of residents. The sales tax would be collected for 20 years and is a gamble by the city that won't pay off, she said. "I am sick of every damn bill in my mailbox having so many franchise fees, municipal fees, sales taxes and property taxes -- and zero tangibles that truly improve the lives or costs of our community," Carney said. A group called Reimagine Sherwood has been backing the bonds with signs and a social media campaign featuring residents talking about why they support the measures. Kim Housley, the incoming chair of the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce, said the bond issues would give the city updated parks, a new events center and a new and needed animal shelter. "Not only is it about amenities, but in addition, it's about sparking development and growth for our community and the well-being for every citizen in Sherwood," Housley said.
