Pea Ridge voters OK millage rise

Colton Neal plays Tuesday Feb. 13 2018 during a music class at Pea Ridge High School. The millage election held Tuesday was to fund a new high school.
Colton Neal plays Tuesday Feb. 13 2018 during a music class at Pea Ridge High School. The millage election held Tuesday was to fund a new high school.

Pea Ridge School District officials can move forward with plans to build a high school after voters agreed Tuesday to pay their share of the project.

Residents approved a 3.9-mill tax increase.

Complete but unofficial totals were:

For 638

Against 452

The increase will provide nearly $10 million toward the cost of a new high school, which will be built on Hazelton Road. The state has pledged to pay the remaining $10.6 million needed for the project.

The high school is expected to be completed in time for the 2020-21 school year and will house grades 10-12, according to Superintendent Rick Neal. The current high school on West Pickens Road will be converted into a junior high school for grades 7-9.

The district's millage rate will increase from 44.8 to 48.7, making it the highest rate among the 15 school districts in Benton and Washington counties. The Fouke School District in Miller County, with a rate of 49.7, was the only district in Arkansas that had a higher millage rate as of last year, according to the Arkansas Department of Education.

Metro on 02/15/2018

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