Newport residents say yes to continuing city sales tax

— Newport residents overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to continue a half-cent economic development sales tax for another 10 years.

The tax revenue is used to recruit industry, invest in capital projects, fund job-training programs, and provide small business grants for facility upgrades.

Complete but unofficial results were:

For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .592

Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

In 2002, about 51 percent of voters supported the tax that had been set to expire in March 2012. A similar proposal for a countywide tax in Jackson County failed in 2001.

So far, 940 jobs have been created because of the tax, said Jon Chadwell, director of the Newport Economic Development Commission.

In its first year, the economic development sales tax received more than $508,000 in revenue. In 2010, the tax generated about $640,839, which shows “more money is being spent in the city limits,” Chadwell said.

“We will continue financial support for economic development in our community,” said Newport Mayor David Stewart, “and the tax will continue to make us a player in the economic environment anytime anyone is looking for a place to move their business or company.”

Arkansas, Pages 11 on 07/13/2011

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