Editorial

What was that again?

When up is down, hot is cold

So the mayor of yet another Arkansas city wants to boost local taxes again. No doubt for much-needed goverment projects, even pet ones. Of course, it's all for the public good. (Aren't all tax increases?) And no doubt the mayor deflected any responsibility of requesting said bump by having a Blue Ribbon Panel explain all the ways the community would benefit. Because, you see, the tax increase would . . . . go toward . . . . surely helping locals . . . . pave streets or improve the courthouse or raise pay for. . . .

Wait uh minute.

The story in Monday's newspaper says the mayor of Benton, Ark., wants to reduce local taxes. Can that be right? Can anybody remember the last time they read about a city in Arkansas--or Anywhere, U.S.A.--that proposed lowering the local tax rate?

What kind of insanity is this?

But there it was, in black and white, a story by our own Shea Stewart:

Benton mayor

proposes cuts

in city's taxes

--Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,

July 27

The mayor of Benton, Ark.--one David Mattingly--says he's going to take this proposal to the City Council's meeting come August 10, and he's hoping to lower both personal and real property from 4.5 mills to 4.1 mills.

Has the heat gotten to him?

Our story said the leaders in Benton have tried this sort of thing before, but something in the state constitution didn't allow it. Last summer, officials there wanted to reduce personal property taxes. But that's not allowed without also lowering real property taxes at the same time. (The state constitution says the rates must be the same.)

Oh, what a way out! What better excuse for city fathers and mothers? (Tsk, tsk. We really wanted to lower your taxes, fellow citizens, but the constitution just wouldn't allow it. Now then, we need a new fire station and 3 percent raises and a new city hall and . . . .)

Instead, this local council is scheduled to vote on lowering both taxes. Which, if approved, would reduce revenue for the city by about $171,000.

Which is no big deal, Benton's leaders say. A couple of big stores are already scheduled to open up in the city, and those places should make up the lost revenue.

No doubt. Not to mention all the revenue from other businesses and developers and home-buyers who will start looking to Benton a bit more often. As if Little Rock doesn't have enough problems with folks moving to the suburbs for better schools, now a place like Benton is thinking about cutting taxes. Consider that Benton's local taxes are (currently) 4.5 mills, Conway's even lower at 4.2 mills and Little Rock clocks in at . . . 15.2 mills. Not including the millage for a road fund.

And the mayor of Benton says he hopes he's not through. He wants to cut local taxes even more in the coming years.

Yes, it must be the heat. That's the only explanation.

Benton residents had better hope the vote comes at the August meeting. Because in a few months, it'll turn off cold again.

One wonders why the state constitution works this way. Why must both tax rates--personal and real property--be exactly the same?

"To me it just doesn't make any sense," Mayor Mattingly said. "Why in heaven's name would you not let a municipality adjust?"

Good question, Mr. Mayor. At the next legislative session, when lawmakers start talking constitutional amendments (and they always do), that question should be asked again. Some of us are interested in any good answers.

Editorial on 07/29/2015

Upcoming Events