SPRINGDALE — Early voting totals were encouraging after Springdale residents voted Tuesday on a $360 million bond project for the city. Voters were deciding whether to extend a 1-cent sales tax dedicated to repaying the bonds.
Results from both Benton and Washington counties are complete, but unofficial, said representatives from the Election Commissions in both counties.
A total of 9,293 people voted in Benton and Washington counties, about 3% of all registered voters, according to county election officials. Part of Springdale lies in Benton County.
Two measures had to pass for the other issues to pass. These were spending $142 million to refinance debt on 2018 and $44 million for the 2020 bonds.
2018 repayment
For 1,672(83%)
Against 353(17%)
2020 repayment
For 1,674(82%)
Against 359(18%)
Street improvements
A $135 million bond to pay for street improvements also passed. Sprouse has identified the Har-Ber Avenue extension with a traffic bridge over Interstate 49 as a probable bond project.
For 1,759(86%)
Against 282(14%)
Park improvements
Voters also approved $16.3 million in bonds for park improvements. Sprouse said the city wants to replace turf on 13 of the city’s ball fields and make final renovations to the Recreation Center, which was purchased with money from the 2020 bond.
For 1,657(82%)
Against 376(18%)
Fire Department
The Springdale Fire Department will build the city’s 10th fire station on Wagon Wheel Road with $7.8 million raised by bonds. The department also will build training structures at the new location of Fire Station 4 on White Road.
For 1,772(87%)
Against 272(13%)
Senior Center
The city also will spend $16.3 million to build a new Senior Center on East Emma Avenue, just west of the Jones Center. The project will double the size of the current Senior Center.
For 1,766(86%)
Against 288(14%)