Little Rock Sales Tax Election Tuesday, September 13th
Little Rock residents need to go to their regular polling sites and vote on Tuesday, September 13th. Otherwise, we could all be paying more taxes. This is a “special election,” which some people may not be aware of.
It is important to understand that there are two tax initiatives on the ballot:
· 1st sales tax proposal is 3/8 cent tax (.375 cent) to sunset after 10 years for capital (new and existing) improvements.
· 2nd sales tax proposal is 5/8 cent tax (.625 cent) to become a permanent tax for operating costs.
Together, the measures are projected to raise $500 million over 10 years, for an average of about $50 million a year. Little Rock only needs $8 million a year to balance its books, not a million dollars a week!
Shoppers in Little Rock currently pay .5 % city sales tax plus 6 % state sales tax and 1 % Pulaski County tax. The 1 % total of the proposed taxes, if passed, would bring the total sales taxes in Little Rock to 8.5 %. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Randy Zook, stated publicly as recently as Wednesday, September 7, 2011, that Arkansas state residents pay 9.9% of their income in state and local taxes.
Early voting started Tuesday, September 6th, at the Pulaski County Regional Building, 501 West Markham Street. Voting hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday (tomorrow) and Tuesday, September 13th.
· Do we want to triple our Little Rock sales tax? We don’t think so!!!
· Should we give Little Rock $50 million a year for the next 10 years to cover an $8 million budget shortfall? We don’t think so!!!
· Should we give Little Rock $1 million a week for the next 10 years? We don’t think so!!!
· Should we allow Little Rock to raise the sales tax on groceries when groceries were dropped from state sales tax last year? We don’t think so!!!
Consider these facts, in light of the City of Little Rock claiming that this tax is necessary to provide basic city services like police, fire, etc.
· $800,000 of this tax money would be spent directly on the “green” portion of a new fire station. The City of Little Rock received a grant from the Federal Government for $2 million for the fire station; however, the grant requires it to be a green building, which took the cost to $2.8 million.
· $20 million is for a “research park” that is designed to bring jobs to Little Rock. However, neither UALR or the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce (who are involved) are contributing to the cost.
· $10 million is for expansion of the Port of Little Rock.
· $6 million is for job recruitment and economic development Infrastructure.
· $3 million is for improvement of the State Fairgrounds facilities.
· Over $1 million is for the Little Rock Zoo.
That is over $40 million that has nothing to do with providing basic city services.
Please forward this to others who live in Little Rock. What they decide could affect all of us who purchase goods in Little Rock.
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