Maumelle proposes tax rise

Survey will query voters about indoor aquatic center

A survey to gauge the interest of Maumelle residents for potential bond projects will also ask whether city voters would support a quarter-percent sales tax to help pay for an indoor aquatic center, the City Council decided Monday evening.

The City Council is considering placing one or more of seven recommended capital projects on the Nov. 4 election ballot that would extend the city’s current property tax rate of 6.6 mills, but wouldn’t increase that rate.

However, the unknown expense for operating and maintaining an indoor aquatic center - at $6.3 million, the most expensive project recommended - prompted aldermen to consider adding a sales tax specifically as a package deal with the aquatic center.

Mayor Mike Watson said he would add the tax question to the survey, but let council members review all wording, probably by week’s end, before finalizing it. The survey would be distributed in “early May,” he said.

“This will see if they support the project but do not support a tax,” Alderman Jan Hogue said. “That’ll take care of it. I think it has to be on there so people will know we’re considering that.”

The council would need to decide by its Aug. 18 council meeting whether to place any bond projects on the November ballot, Watson said.

The bond projects under consideration, and their estimated construction costs, are: replacing the senior wellness center, $4.46 million; a two-phased events center, $3 million-$3.75 million for the first phase and $4.8 million-$6.3 million for the second; renovating City Hall, $2.6 million; adding two softball and two T-ball fields to the Diamond Center Softball Complex, $1.05 million; and a pedestrian overpass or underpass to cross Maumelle Boulevard.

The City Council also agreed to allow Watson to make an offer to buy property for a new fire station, though the council would hold final purchase approval.

Watson said he has three possible sites for a fire station after a group of residents protested the previously chosen site of city-owned open space near Odom Boulevard South and Club Manor Drive. The City Council agreed at its last meeting to put off its decision on the fire station’s location at least until April 21 to have other sites be considered.

Arkansas, Pages 10 on 04/08/2014

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