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.