NLR meeting to pitch proposed 1% sales tax

A public meeting to discuss a proposed sales tax in North Little Rock will be at 6 p.m. today at Sherman Park Recreation Center, 624 N. Beech St.

The election on whether to raise North Little Rock's sales tax by 1 percentage point will be Aug. 8. The city sales tax will increase to 2 percent if approved.

Mayor Joe Smith is using a series of public meetings, in addition to speaking to neighborhood and civic groups, to help inform the public about why the city is asking voters for a sales tax increase.

Tonight's meeting is the second of five scheduled through next month. The next meeting will be July 13.

If the tax is approved, the revenue collected will be divided equally for different purposes. One-half percent will be a permanent tax for city operations. The other one-half percent will be in effect for five years and used to upgrade police and courts building, fire stations, and streets and drainage, as is to be stated on the ballot.

The tax is projected by city officials to raise an additional $16 million annually for the city.

Customers pay 8.5 percent in total sales tax in North Little Rock. The amount includes a 6.5 percent state sales tax, a 1 percent Pulaski County tax and the current 1 percent city tax.

Metro on 06/29/2017

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