Four bond measures fail in Bryant

Bryant residents on Tuesday voted down four bond measures that would have allowed the city to make improvements to its parks and Boone Road.

In one of four measures, Bryant residents opted not to fold existing bond debt into a new bond that would add $16 million to the current debt. Residents also voted against extending an existing half-percent sales tax that voters approved in 2006 and putting up another existing sales tax as collateral for the bonds. The other two measures would have allowed the city to use the $16 million in bonds for improvements to Boone Road and the city parks.

With all 42 precincts reporting, the unofficial results were:

Issue No. 1:

Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,375 For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,087

Issue No. 2

Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,486 For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 916

Issue No. 3

Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,250 For . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,178

Issue No. 4

Against . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,341 For. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,118

The city issued $24 million in bonds in 2007 and 2008 to fund the construction of Bishop Park, along with projects at other municipal parks. It currently uses revenue from the temporary half-percent sales tax for the monthly park bond payments. That tax was set to expire once the city paid off the park bonds.

Had the measures been approved, the city would have begun safety and drainage improvements to Boone Road. The parks projects included upgrades to the Boys and Girls Club; the Seniors Center; the softball, soccer and baseball complexes; and enhancements to Mills and Bishop parks.

There was no known organized group opposing the tax.

Bryant Mayor Jill Dabbs said city officials will do community assessments and “take direction from there.”

“I’m grateful that the voters had an opportunity to weigh in on the streets and parks issues, and hope that those that didn’t vote in this election are not disappointed with the turnout,” she said. “Because all four measures failed, we’ll keep driving carefully on Boone Road. We will continue to enjoy Bishop Park. The wish list that the associations were asking for at this point in time … there will not be any forward movement on acquiring those amenities in the park.”

Bryant resident and business-owner Hamid Pezeshk said he had many concerns with the four measures. For him, the biggest issue was the extension of the half-percent sales tax.

Metro on 05/21/2014

Upcoming Events