Voters in the Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District special election Tuesday approved a 7.6-mill property tax increase to help finance a new high school, a new elementary school and four expanded elementary campuses, according to the Pulaski County Election Commission.
The complete but unofficial results were 2,094 votes for the tax increase and 1,702 votes against, according to the commission.
Less than 21 percent of the 18,407 registered voters participated in Tuesday's election, the commission said.
The property tax will raise the rate in the district from 40.7 mills to 48.3 mills.
See Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
EARLIER
Jacksonville residents headed to the polls Tuesday to vote on a 7.6-mill property tax increase that would help pay for the construction of expanded school buildings worth $80 million in the new Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District.
The property tax would raise the rate in the district from 40.7 mills to 48.3 mills.
At the Jacksonville Community Center, more than 40 people, many in favor of the tax, had cast their vote since polling opened at 7:30 a.m., an election commissioner said.
"Our schools are run down, and it’s up to voters to make sure we get good schools," resident Pete Kaminsky said. "We can increase civic pride in our community and increase real estate values with a couple hundred bucks a year in property tax."
Another resident, Katie Goff, said she grew up attending Jacksonville schools and had wished that the city was in its own school district. She said she's voting yes so her daughter, who is starting kindergarten this year, will have a more enriching educational experience.
"Jacksonville has always been treated like the red-headed stepchild, but I'm excited for my daughter to have better opportunities," she said.
Others said they worried the tax would be an additional burden for low-income families.
"They're asking for 7.6 mill, but they don't need that much," Dwight Garret said. "Everyone’s trying to get money. We're getting taxed to death."
His wife, Lois Garret, added, "People on fixed income are having a hard time as it is."
Polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m. and the results will be posted at each precinct's polling station shortly after, an election commissioner said.
When early voting ended Friday, 1,175 people had cast their votes, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Sunday.
— Jaime Dunaway