Searcy Votes to Increase Sales Tax

Today, Searcy voters passed a measure increasing the city sales tax by 1 percent. The proposal passed 1,531 to 646. The 1 percent tax increase will go into effect on April 1, 2012, and it will sunset fifteen months later. All proceeds are dedicated to various road improvements.

Searcy Bypass Tax Election

"Yes, Virginia, there is..." ...another sales tax election today in Searcy, AR. Polls will be open 7:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. To vote on the 15-month, 1 percent sales tax increase, registered voters in Searcy may visit their regular voting locations at the Downtown Church of Christ, West Race Baptist Church, Carmichael Community Center, or First Assembly of God Church. Unlike the County tax voted down in September, this sales tax will only be collected within the Searcy city limits, and it the funds it would raise are more restricted in how they can be spent.

The Mayor and City Council set this December 13 special election to raise money for the North Connector Route of the Searcy Bypass. The money projected to be raised through this tax is specifically allocated in the sales tax ordinance to three different highway and road projects:

• $3,000,000 in matching funds for the North Connector Route project from Highway 36 to Highway 67/167 (the final route will not be determined until late spring according to Mayor David Morris who mentioned this on 99.1 the morning of December 8).
• $4,140,000 estimated for improvements to North Main Street and Davis Drive, which would connect to the North Bypass Road (as it is called in the official estimates document for both projects)
• Any remaining funds raised by the sales tax increase would go to "repair, improve and maintain streets, roads or ways within the City of Searcy, Arkansas"

Don't miss this opportunity to exercise your right to vote!

Information on the 2011 School Board Elections

If you've seen the early voting signs still up at the White County Clerk's office, they are for the 2011 school board elections. Only one race is uncontested. In the Position 5 (Bald Knob) race, Phillip Helms and Novy Newkirk are the choices for our friends and neighbors in that area. Early voting runs September 13-19 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday at the White County Clerk's office. Election day is September 20. For more information, visit the White County Clerk's Web site.

If you are interested in who the other, uncontested candidates are, click here to download the list, or  view the list below the break.

White County Bypass Tax Election Results

Reports are popping up on the Internet that the election results have been tallied for the White County bypass tax increase. The most reliable report we've seen on the vote totals is:

• 2477 For
• 3248 Against

Official totals will likely filter through into the major media outlets in the area later tonight and in the morning, but in any case, it seems the proposal has been rejected by the voters of White County.

Voter Information for 1 Percent Bypass Tax Increase

Today is the last day to early vote on the White County bypass tax increase at the White County Clerk's office. They will be open until 4:30 P.M.

If you plan on voting tomorrow, the White County Clerk's Web site has been updated with information on the county-wide 1 percent sales tax special election. On September 13, registered White County voters may vote at their usual voting precincts from 7:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M.

To help you make your informed vote, please use the following Web sites to learn more about the tax proposal and your voting precinct:

• Voter Precinct Information - www.voterview.ar-nova.org
• Information For the Tax - www.facebook.com/wcroads
• Information Against the Tax - bypassthebypasstax.com

The Searcy Bypass Tax: Who's Who

The deadline for organizations, individuals, and government bodies promoting or opposing the White County 1 percent sales tax increase to file their pre-election reports was September 6, which was seven days before the September 13 election date. So, who has been working to convince us to vote for or against the tax?

According to the filings on the Arkansas Ethics Commission Web site, one group has filed declaring they were "formed in support of the White County sales tax proposal." The Citizens for HWY 13 Project - Moving White County Forward Committee is led by Buck Layne, President of the Searcy Chamber of Commerce, and Reynie Rutledge, President and CEO of First Security Bancorp. While their filings have some problems, the one financial report they have filed does have some information on their supporters and expenses. They are backed financially by six local banks (First Security, First Community, Liberty Bank, Regions, Simmons First, and Centennial Bank), two chambers of commerce (Searcy and Bald Knob), three individuals, and Crain Media. Their expenses are harder to summarize because they chose not to fully report their expenditures as required by Arkansas Code Annotated (ACA) § 608 (3). The expenses they report include payments to Think Advertising, Jim House, and the U.S. Postal Service (for postage). The glaring omission is no payment is recorded for the radio commercials on the Crain Media radio stations declaring they are paid for by the Moving White County Forward Committee. As of August 31 (the report should've covered up to September 3), Citizens for HWY 13 Project - Moving White County Forward Committee had reported spending approximately $23,241 promoting the tax.

 The Arkansas Ethics Commission Web site has filings for one organization opposed to the tax. The Citizens for Responsible Taxation filed its statement of organization on July 23. It lists one officer, Nicholas Horton, and it declares the group "will advocate for the defeat of the Bypass Tax for White County." The Citizens for Responsible Taxation received contributions in July, but the group did not file a July financial report. Researching why led to ACA §607 (a), which says,

"a legislative question committee which either receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) for the purpose of expressly advocating the qualification, disqualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question or the passage or defeat of a legislative question shall file with the Arkansas Ethics Commission financial reports as required by §§ 608 through 610."

So, according to the organization's pre-election report, its August 7 contribution was the one that put them over the threshold (more than $500 in contributions or expenditures) requiring that they file their first financial report in August, which due to the timing of the election was their pre-election report. According to that pre-election report, all of the contributors to the Citizens for Responsible Taxation are individuals. The expenditures reported include payments to Voice Broadcasting, YourAdTeam.com, and Captial Promotions. As of September 5 (the report only had to cover up to September 3), the Citizens for Responsible Taxation had spent $1,449.37 opposing the tax.

The remaining question is where are the financial reports from the White County government or County Judge Michael Lincoln? It has been reported that Jim House, who has made several appearances on the radio promoting the 1 percent tax increase, was hired April 1 as a consultant for County Judge Michael Lincoln at $2,000 a month plus expenses to "work with the County Judge in any tax promotion that effects economic development." Clearly, Jim House is working for the County Judge, and clearly, he is working to help pass the 1 percent sales tax increase we can vote on September 13. According to ACA §607 (c), "A public servant or governmental body expending public funds in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) for the purpose of expressly advocating the qualification, disqualification, passage, or defeat of a ballot question or the passage or defeat of a legislative question shall file with the Arkansas Ethics Commission financial reports as required by §§ 608 through 610."

As concerned citizens, the best way for us to stay informed on these groups is to monitor the Arkansas Ethics Commission Web site to see if Judge Lincoln or anyone else files reports on either side of this 1 percent tax increase proposal. It is our duty to make the most informed decision possible whenever we vote. Make sure you vote on the tax increase September 13.

Searcy Bypass Tax

Starting tomorrow, registered voters in White County may begin early voting on the county sales tax increase. The early voting will be held at the White County Clerk's office, and their office hours are 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. If you have questions about early voting or election day on September 13, call the White County Clerk at 501-279-6204. As of now, election information is not available on the White County Web site.

Since White County Judge Michael Lincoln and the White County government haven't posted the tax proposal online, you'll need to visit the Citizens for Responsible Taxation's Web site, BypasstheBypassTax.com. Even though they oppose the tax increase, they have posted the tax proposal online for us to read what we are voting on in this special election.

At its basic level, this tax increase is to help raise funds for the "Highway 13 Extension Project," which is a bypass around the west side of Searcy. The state will fund $54 million of the $60 million project if local funds of $6 million can be raised. White County offered to pay $3 million and decided Searcy should pay the other $3 million. However, the previous Searcy mayor left little money available in reserve for current Searcy mayor David Morris. Even though White County could pay the full $6 million (as of July 25, 2011, the county had $7.16 million in its General Fund with over $2 million in reserve), they proposed a complicated tax increase on the whole county that ultimately gets Searcy enough money to pay the $3 million the county wants Searcy to pay for the Highway 13 extension. Of course, the tax proposal also results in us paying millions more than that $3 million for Searcy that White County can spread around to all the other cities (keeping a healthy share for itself).

Whether you are for or against the 21 month 1 cent county sales tax increase, and the nearly $18 million dollars it is estimated White County residents and visitors are estimated to pay, make time to early vote starting September 6 at the White County Clerk's office or vote on election day, September 13.

A&P Tax Refund Deadline January 18

For those of you who have not submitted your A&P tax refund for the A&P tax you paid in Searcy, AR, from July to December 2009, time is running out to claim your money. The deadline is January 18, and more details are available at the City Clerk's A&P tax refund page.