Millage campaign kicks off for Bentonville schools

BENTONVILLE -- School Board members, mayors and businessmen gathered on the downtown square Tuesday in support of a proposed 1.9-mill property tax increase to build four schools.

The event marked the official start of the Vote Yes for Schools 2017 millage campaign five weeks before the May 9 election.

"We have to keep investing in the future of our city and our community," said Mayor Bob McCaslin. "And that investment means we have to have a high-quality school system, and we do. That's what attracts people, along with jobs."

McCaslin endorsed the proposed millage increase. Mayors Peter Christie of Bella Vista and Bill Edwards of Centerton -- both cities served by the Bentonville School District -- also declared their support.

Eric White, the board member chosen to lead the campaign, said his strategy involves pointing district patrons to the campaign's website, www.VoteMay9.com, for clear answers to the most frequently asked questions about the millage.

"We have a number of community events that will be listening and question-answer sessions set up in Bentonville, Bella Vista and Centerton. Those are all posted on our website, and we'll continue to push that information out," White said.

The campaign committee hopes to keep voters' interest through election day, he said.

"We know elections are a unique event. People get excited about a topic and then, as they get close to the day that they vote, people forget to go vote," White said. "Our job between now and May 9 will be to remind them in ways to get them to go vote."

The campaign has more than $30,000 in donations, he said.

"We think that's a solid number, but we need more," White said. "We want to be able to launch TV ads if we need to. We're not going to spend that money unless we feel like there's a need to do that."

The most recent financial report available online for the Vote Yes for Schools 2017 committee was filed March 15 with the Arkansas Ethics Commission. It shows a total of $18,500 in donations from four companies.

The largest donations listed came from construction companies: $10,000 from Flintco and $5,000 from Crossland Construction. Lifetouch National School Studios gave $3,000 and Arvest Bank donated $500, according to the report.

The committee had spent $2,661 as of March 15, all of which went to Ironside Photography in Fayetteville, the report showed.

District officials have proposed the millage increase in order to pay for two elementary schools, one middle school and one junior high school, all of which are tentatively planned to open over the next five years if voters approve the increase.

Officials have said they expect to receive $12 million from the state to help pay for those buildings if the millage request passes.

All seven board members have shown support for the request. The increase would raise the district's millage rate from 46.6 to 48.5. The Fouke School District in the state's southwest corner now has the highest rate at 49.0 mills.

The additional buildings are needed to keep pace with enrollment growth, district officials said. District enrollment has grown at least 3 percent for four of the past five years. October enrollment was 16,609, an increase of 549 students from a year earlier.

The last millage request the district made was in September 2013 to pay for West High School. About 70 percent of voters said yes to that one.

Will Corporon, a Bella Vista resident and owner of Corporon Insurance and Financial Services, also spoke at Tuesday's gathering. Corporon and his wife, Heather, have six children, three of whom are students in the district.

Corporon said many of his clients are seniors. He believes seniors will be willing to vote for the millage increase if they know the facts.

"Seniors are very attuned to their money, whether it's their home value, the value of their portfolio," Corporon said. "They're very much aware of where every dollar goes. And so I think they just want to know their dollars are being spent wisely and that it's not going to something that's frivolous and the need is there. Well, the need is there."

Christie said as more people move into his city, the average age of residents is getting younger. While seniors typically vote, it's harder to get younger residents to the polls, he said.

"I'm hoping that because this is going to immediately help them, that they will see the value in getting out there and voting yes," Christie said. "And that's the pitch, when I go door to door later this month and I get younger families. This is for you, this is for your children."

Travis Riggs, School Board president, said much energy and planning has gone into preparing the district's financial and facilities plan.

The district seemingly is always playing catch up with the enrollment growth, but if next month's millage passes, "I feel like we could get a little bit ahead," Riggs said.

White, who was elected to the board in September, was chosen by his fellow board members to lead the campaign. Riggs, speaking at Monday's board meeting, complimented White on the job he's done so far.

"I had a little bit of doubt with you being the newest board member," Riggs said. "You nailed it though, man. You've done a great job."

There were 59,285 registered voters in the School District as of Tuesday. Monday is the deadline to register in time for the May 9 election.

NW News on 04/05/2017