BENTONVILLE -- Brent Meyers said he will seek another term on the Benton County Quorum Court.
Meyers, 75, of Lowell, is justice of the peace for District 14. A Republican, he was first elected to the Quorum Court in 2012. He operates a tax preparation service as a part-time business from his home.
He has lived in the district for about 11 years, moving from Southern California.
Meyers said the proposed new courts building remains the biggest issue facing the Quorum Court.
"Money is the big thing to be determined. How much is it going to cost and how is the county going to pay for it?" he said.
Meyers said the county has resolved one major issue during his time on the court. The county has a system in place to provide for ambulance service to the rural areas after voters approved a property tax increase to pay for it.
"The ambulance/EMS service was a big issue for a number of years," he said. "It's still evolving, but it's manageable now."
Meyers said he is undecided on how to pay for the courts building.
"To me, we have to get taxpayer approval for anything we do. I don't want us to do anything without the voters being knowledgeable and approving it. So far, I haven't heard anything I would be comfortable bouncing off my next-door neighbor."
Meyers said he hears from some constituents on county road problems, since his district includes the area east of Lowell and Springdale running to Beaver Lake. He said most of those complaints have been handled promptly.
An issue the county will have to deal with is the probability of a loss of revenue after the 2020 census. The county's share of the one percent countywide sales tax is set by the population of the cities and the unincorporated area. After the 2010 census, the county's share of the sales tax revenue dropped from about 27 percent to just under 20 percent.
Meyers has no announced opposition.
Candidate filing for party primaries begins Feb. 22 and ends March 1. The primary is set for May 22 with the general election Nov. 6. Arkansas House members serve two-year terms and have an annual salary of $39,400. Members can serve 16 years in the Legislature under the state constitution's limit on terms.
NW News on 02/10/2018