Sales tax to fund bus system upgrades OK'd for March election

Pulaski County voters will decide March 1 whether to levy a sales tax of 0.25 percent for improvements to the region's bus system, the Quorum Court having approved of the election Tuesday night.

The March 1 date means voters will decide as they cast their ballots in the primary elections.

Rock Region Metro is seeking the sales tax revenue to add more buses and routes and increase the frequency of stops. The proposal would also eliminate the need for North Little Rock riders to ride to Little Rock and back just to get to other destinations in North Little Rock.

The increased tax revenue would also add free WiFi on buses and more bus shelters. The changes would require an annual budget of $36.9 million, twice what the agency's budget is today.

Annual revenue from the tax is estimated at $18.2 million. Annual expected growth from sales taxes is usually 1 percent to 2 percent, Rock Region Metro Executive Director Jarod Varner has said. Ridership would increase, according to estimates from a consultant, 30 percent to 40 percent from 3 million annual riders.

Supporters say the increase will benefit people who can't afford cars or who can't drive by helping them get to jobs and schools more easily, thus helping potential employers find more candidates for jobs.

Opponents of the increase have said they prefer that tax votes be held during a general election, which typically attracts more voters, and other opponents have stated that they don't support higher sales taxes in the county at all.

"We're incredibly pleased that the Quorum Court has seen it fit to let the voters decide," Varner said after the vote Tuesday night.

Justices of the peace approved putting the sales tax on the ballot 8-6, with the Rev. Robert Green Sr., D-McAlmont, absent from the meeting.

In favor were Tyler Denton, D-Little Rock, Julie Blackwood, D-Little Rock, Lillie McMullen, D-Little Rock, Donna Massey, D-Little Rock, Teresa Coney, D-Little Rock, Curtis Keith, D-Mabelvale, Judy Green, D-Little Rock, and Staci Medlock, D-North Little Rock.

Opposed were Doug Reed, R-Roland, Kathy Lewison, D-Little Rock, Aaron Robinson, R-Jacksonville, Luke McCoy, R-Sherwood, Phil Stowers, R-Maumelle, and Paul Elliott, R-Maumelle.

The Quorum Court only needed eight of 15 votes to approve putting the sales tax question on the primary ballot.

County voters have not approved a permanent countywide tax in more than 30 years, rejecting three 0.25 percent sales-tax proposals since then, all for funding the jail.

Justices of the peace were tasked with deciding whether to put the sales tax to a vote of the people, but several justices of the peace and members of the public commented on the proposed tax, prompting County Judge Barry Hyde to ask twice that they stick to the question of allowing county residents to vote on the tax.

Justices of the peace heard comments from seven members of the public, all of whom supported placing the measure on the March 1 ballot.

One was Kathy Wells, president of the Coalition of Greater Little Rock Neighborhoods, who said that the issue deserved to be considered by voters.

Three additional commenters said they were supporters of alternatives to car transportation and argued that less space taken up by cars and taken up instead by profitable businesses would benefit the economy of Little Rock.

Another was the mother of a disabled daughter who said that her daughter had to rely on the bus system when her parents couldn't drive her. Another was a blind man who said there were still many places in the city he cannot travel to, such as the Promenade at Chenal shopping center, because buses don't go there.

Among justices of the peace, Reed and Stowers both said sales taxes were already too high in Arkansas and keep increasing.

Reed said he would be more amenable to a conversation about expanding the bus system if Little Rock was bigger than it is.

Robinson said he could not vote for such an election, as it would be so close to the Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District millage election, which could increase property tax rates for the school district.

"My issue with this is timing," he said.

McMullen said Tuesday that her constituents had asked her why Rock Region Metro doesn't use money in its own budget to fund the expansion. She noted that Rock Region Metro did not have the funds in its budget to achieve the doubling of its program and that its funds are limited to what has been appropriated by federal grants and by an interlocal agreement in the county.

Green said many of her constituents were excited about the prospect of expanded busing in the unincorporated area of southeast Pulaski County.

"They're excited about this vote and that is why I will have to support it," she said.

Massey said the issue will be decided by voters and for no cost, unlike other special elections that don't take place during primary or general elections.

"I appreciate your effort to say that this is simply something to place on the ballot," Medlock said, gesturing to Massey. "And from everything I've heard, they're wanting to make a choice on this."

Metro on 12/16/2015