Arkansas voters OK sales tax increase for roads

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas voters have approved a half-cent sales tax increase to fund $1.8 billion in highway improvements over the next 10 years.

Tuesday’s vote will increase Arkansas’ state sales tax to 6.5 percent from 6 percent, beginning July 1. The tax will remain in place up to 10 years — or until the bonds issued to pay for the projects are repaid.

The measure had no organized opposition, and backers say the tax will fund much-needed improvements throughout the state.

Projects funded by the tax include widening Interstate 540 to six lanes between Fayetteville and Bentonville, while doing the same on Interstate 40 between Conway and Little Rock.

The plan also calls for additional four-lane work in northeast Arkansas to connect Jonesboro and Paragould to U.S. 67/167 and Interstate 55.

Meanwhile, the measure to legalize marijuana for medicinal use in Arkansas is down slightly with 69 percent of precincts reporting as of 11:30 p.m.

Read more in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.