BELLA VISTA -- Residents overwhelming approved two pension millages Tuesday in a special election.
Voters were asked on the first ballot question for a 1-millage to support pensions for uniformed fire employees. The second ballot question was for a half-mill millage for uniformed police officers.
Voters approved the pension millage for fire employees with 1,217 voting in favor and 890 against. They passed the millage for police officers 1,196 to 910.
Correction
A previous version of this story had an incorrect number of votes for the millage for police officers. The error has been corrected.
Taxpayers would see an about $30 a year increase on a home valued at $100,000.
By state law, the city is required to contribute to each uniformed employee's retirement fund with the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System. Those pension contributions are paid out of the general fund. Police and fire employees also contribute 8.5 percent of their salaries.
One mill brings in about $450,000 annually. The city pays about $650,000 annually to the retirement system.
Also by state law, cities are allowed to request up to 1 mill each for fire and police to cover this expense. Money generated from this property tax collection may only be used toward contributions, which would then free money from the general fund to operate a new fire station and for personnel in the Police Department.
The cost of the fire personnel to man the new fire station is estimated at $500,000, which is about what the 1 mill raises for the pension fund.
NW News on 09/10/2014