PINE BLUFF — Sales-tax proposals in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County have been postponed to February so that supporters of the taxes can better educate the public, an advocate for the taxes said Monday.
Originally scheduled to be on the Nov. 2 ballot, voters will decide Feb. 8, 2011, whether to support a three eighths-percent sales tax for economic development in the county and a five-eighths percent sales tax for quality-of-life improvements in the city, said George Makris, president of M.K.
Distributors in Pine Bluff.
If approved by voters, the annual projected revenue would be $4.5 million for the Pine Bluff tax and $3.4 million for the Jefferson County tax.
Makris said officials decided to delay both tax initiatives so that supporters have plenty of time to educate voters about the importance of the taxes in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.
“We know we have a lot of education to do,” Makris said.
Last month, Pine Bluff Mayor Carl Redus Jr. said the proposed city tax would fund citywide quality-of-life improvements such as fixing sewage problems, helping public safety, repairing streets and creating community centers.
“We need money to improve our recreational areas; we need money for drainage, streets and sewers; we need money for the Police and Fire departments; and we also need to provide for the community a sense that we are moving the city forward,” Alderman Glen Brown said. “We want to improve the morale of our residents.”
Brown said postponing the tax to February will allow four alderman running for re-election in November an opportunity to run a campaign without a tax on the ballot and will give time for the economy to improve.
The county and the city have entered into a gentleman’s agreement to support each other’s tax initiatives.
With the countywide tax, Jefferson County Judge Mike Holcomb would choose four Pine Bluff residents and three county residents not residing in Pine Bluff to serve on the board that decides how the tax revenue is spent, Makris said.
In December 2008, county voters turned down a 0.5 percent sales tax for economic development.
Arkansas, Pages 8 on 08/03/2010