SPRINGDALE — Mayor Doug Sprouse will have a say in how $20 million a year is spent across the state for municipal street programs.
At A Glance
Arkansas State Aid Street Committee
Name Appointed By Mayor Of
Jerry Boen Governor Lamar
JoAnne Bush Speaker of House Lake Village
Chris Claybaker Speaker of House Camden
Mike Gaskill Senate Pro Tem Paragould
Shane Kilgore Senate Pro Tem Jasper
Harold Perrin Senate Pro Tem Jonesboro
Doug Sprouse Speaker of House Springdale
Mark Stoda Governor Little Rock
Tab Townsell Governor Conway
Source: Staff Report
Sprouse was named to the State Aid Street Committee by Robert S. Moore Jr., D-Arkansas City, the outgoing speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives. Sprouse is the only Northwest Arkansas member on the committee.
Moore said he is an admirer of Sprouse’s efforts as Springdale mayor to improve the city’s street infrastructure and trail system.
“There was not anybody from Northwest Arkansas on the committee,” Moore said. “I felt that area should have someone, since it has seen such growth.”
Senator-elect Jon Woods, R-Springdale, discussed Sprouse’s selection with Moore, he said.
“I thought Mayor Sprouse would be a good fit,” Woods said. “He is a doer who stays busy.”
The committee was created by the Legislature to oversee the State Aid Street Fund. The fund will receive an estimated $20 million per year after voters approved Issue 1 in the November election. The constitutional amendment included diverting 1 percent of tax on fuel to the fund. That change affected an existing tax.
The amendment also added, for 10 years, an additional 0.5 percent fuel tax. None of that money will go to the street fund.
“I think we can do some good things with this money,” Sprouse said. “The committee will meet for the first time on Jan. 9.”
The committee includes mayors of nine Arkansas cities. The governor, speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate named three members each. A mayor of a city with a population of at least 25,000 must be named by each person.
“I tried to balance my appointments,” Moore said. “I also named Mayor JoAnne Bush from Lake Village. Springdale and Lake Village are about as far apart as you can get.”
All appointments are for four years with a limit of two terms.
Projects approved for cities with more than 25,000 in population will receive 90 percent of the cost of a project with a 10 percent match, according to Arkansas Code 27-72-407. Cities under 25,000 will received 100 percent funding.