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.