Mayor's yes vote puts tax on ballot

PB’s extra 3 mills will build library

PINE BLUFF -- Voters will get the chance to decide in the November general election whether a new library is built in downtown Pine Bluff.

After almost two hours of debate at a special meeting of the City Council on Friday afternoon, the board voted 6-3 to allow voters to decide on a 3-mill increase that would pay for construction of a new $14 million library.

Backers of the proposed increase say the current library, built in 1966, is in poor condition and needs to be replaced. They also believe the new library would help economic growth and revitalization of the downtown area.

A 3-mill increase would cost Pine Bluff property owners an extra $43.74 annually based on an average home value of $72,900. A mill is one-tenth of a cent. Each mill is charged against each dollar of a property's assessed value. Counties assess property at 20 percent of its appraised value.

Mayor Debe Hollingsworth provided the necessary vote required for a two-thirds majority to pass the ordinance on an emergency clause.

A special meeting of the council was called Friday because all documents required to place an issue on the November ballot must be submitted to the Jefferson County Election Commission by Tuesday, and the council was not scheduled to meet again before that date.

Had the council not called the special meeting, the city would have had to pay for a special election to vote on the issue. That would have cost approximately $40,000, according to previous statements by Stuart Soffer, secretary of the election commission.

Earlier this month, the City Council fell a vote short of the needed two-thirds majority when it voted 5-3 in favor of adding the issue to the November ballot.

Hollingsworth said Friday that she would have cast the deciding vote at the previous meeting had she known she was allowed to vote on it. She said she learned later from talking with city attorneys that state law allows mayors to vote when their vote is needed to pass any ordinance, bylaw, resolution, order or motion.

"I'm just thankful that we have got elected officials that understand the process, and that by approving this it doesn't state an opinion as to how we feel about the library issue," Hollingsworth said after Friday's meeting. "They just understand it is just allowing the citizens to vote.

"I'm thankful I've got five who understand it and have allowed it to move forward. I just don't think any governing body has the right to say what goes on the ballot and what does not."

The three board members who voted against the ordinance -- Glen Brown Sr., Thelma Walker and Steven Mays -- all argued that taxpayers are overburdened and do not need another tax. All three voted against the ordinance previously.

Brown said he's received calls from people who say they can't afford another tax. He also said he didn't believe a new library would draw tourists or bring in needed revenue for a city with a declining population.

"I don't see where we need a library in a city that is dying," Brown said. "We don't need to ask the taxpayers for a $14 million increase for something we don't need."

Assistant City Attorney Joe Childers told council members that state law requires the council to put the matter to a vote because the library board of trustees delivered the 100 signatures required for the item to be put on the ballot.

Alderman Glen Brown Jr. said he voted to have the issue added to the general election even though he will vote against the measure in November.

"I don't think we can sit here and ignore the law because of how we feel," Brown Jr. said. "We can vote against the tax. We are obligated to put it on the ballot and let the people to decide."

Mays repeatedly told Hollingsworth that voting on the measure wasn't fair and argued with Childers about the matter. At one point, the assistant city attorney became exasperated with Mays and told him "if you want to defy the law, then go ahead and do it."

Childers wasn't the only one to show his frustration.

After a 45-minute speech by Brown Sr. in which he expressed his opposition to the proposed millage increase, Hollingsworth became fed up after he told her she could not vote on the second reading of the ordinance.

"Yes I can. Let's have the vote now," Hollingsworth said, slamming down the gavel. "I'm over this meeting. Let's have roll call. If you don't like it, then walk out."

Brown did not leave and told the mayor again that she could not cast the sixth vote needed to pass the ordinance. Brown interrupted again as City Attorney Althea Hadden-Scott tried explain that it was OK for Hollingsworth to vote.

"Stop," Hollingsworth yelled into the microphone at Brown Sr., banging her gavel. "Stop and listen to the city attorney."

As Brown Sr. continued to argue, Hollingsworth loudly admonished him again, telling him once again to stop.

State Desk on 08/27/2016

Upcoming Events