Jonesboro officials, schools seek tax raises

— Jonesboro officials and two school districts with patrons in the city are all seeking tax increases within six weeks of each other in August and September.

City officials say they need a half-cent sales tax to payfor fire and police services. Without the tax, which is estimated to garner about $6 million a year for four years, the city would be forced to lay off about 70 safety employees, Mayor Harold Perrin said.

That special election will be held Aug. 10.

Six weeks after the city election, the Jonesboro School District and the Valley View School District will each ask for millage increases Sept. 21 to help pay for construction projects.

Jonesboro’s district, comprising the western and northern sections of the city, hopes to repair its gymnasium roof, build a new cafeteria and fine arts auditorium, and add classrooms. Valley View, in the southwestern quadrant of Jonesboro, wants to build a two-story high school.

“It’s odd to have the elections so close,” said Craighead County Clerk Nancy Nelms. “I’ve been here since 1978, and I’ve never seen it like this.”

The Jonesboro School District has asked for three millage increases and failed to win any since 1988, when voters last favored raising the rate.

During the same time, the city has placed an advertising and promotion tax issue, a road improvement tax and an economic development tax on election ballots. Only the economic development tax passed.

The city and school elections never coincided in the same year, Nelms said.

“I don’t know if either one will pass this time because people are afraid of putting out more money,” she said.

City officials spoke with school administrators and learned of their intentions to ask for millage increases. The city went on with its own request, however.

“Our timing in 2010 is bad,” said Gary Harpole, operations director for the city. “But we don’t have the luxury of waiting.”

Perrin has said the city has a $1.5 million revenue shortfall, and if the sales tax does not pass next month, 35 to 40 police officers and 25 to 30 firefighters will be laid off.

“It’s a real problem facing communities across America,” Harpole said. “We don’t have to lay them off, but we have to have additional revenue to keep them.”

Jonesboro School District Superintendent Kim Wilbanks is also critical of the timing of the district’s millage increase request but, like Harpole, said the revenue is desperately needed.

“The timing is probably bad,” she said. “We intended to wait for a better time, but we ran out of time to wait.”

The school is asking for a 3.1-mill increase to raise $18.65 million for construction projects. The Jonesboro millage rate is now 30 mills.

“We’re out of space. We need to add more classrooms,” Wilbanks said. “We have to go to the voters for assistance.”

Voters turned down millage increase requests in 1999, 2005 and 2006.

“We have to be optimistic this time,” Wilbanks said. “We have to be transparent and let our patrons know where the money is going.”

Valley View School District will ask for a 4.9-mill increase from its current 37.6 mills.

“I wish I had a crystal ball,” Superintendent Radius Baker said. “It’s a tough time to ask for a tax. I think the city’s tax election could affect this election.

“But we surveyed our patrons, and a majority of them said if we showed a need, they’d support the millage,” he said. “We can show a need.”

Not everyone is optimistic the measures will pass, however. City officials have said they believe it’s a 50-50 chance the city sales tax will pass.

“People are up to their eyeballs in taxes,” said Robert Rees, a Jonesboro businessman who adamantly opposes the tax and millage increases.

“If they get this money, it won’t be enough. When is it ever going to stop?

“I think it would be good at this time for them to learn to live within their means,” he said.

Arkansas, Pages 9 on 07/21/2010

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