Arts Center bond measure passes by large margin

The Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock.
The Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock.

Voters in Little Rock have approved a $37.5 million bond proposal to fund upgrades at the Arkansas Arts Center and MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.

In complete but unofficial results from the Pulaski County Election Commission, 6,729 voted for the proposal and 1,256 voted against, with all 72 precincts reporting,.

The vote allows the city of Little Rock to take out the bonds to support the center. A 2 percent hotel tax increase that the Little Rock Board of Directors passed last year will be used as the security, allowing the money to be obtained in a lump-sum that can pay for larger renovations.

See Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

EARLIER:

Voters in Little Rock began turning out Tuesday to decide on a $37.5 million bond proposal to fund upgrades at the Arkansas Arts Center and MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.

A 2 percent tax on hotels to pay for the bond is already in place, and voters must decide whether to borrow money for a lump-sum payment or leave improvements dependent on the smaller stream of tax income.

In the Heights neighborhood of Little Rock, a trickle of voters arrived at their polling site at Little Rock Fire Station No. 10 around 8 a.m.

Around a dozen were willing to share their votes, and all said they voted in favor of the bond proposal.

"For, for, for," said Ann Kemp, 59, as she walked toward her car after voting. "I think the Arkansas Arts Center is a treasure to this community."

"Arts are an important part of a city and help economic growth and make it a better place to live," said Chris Warren, 46. "I think it's worth the investment."

Warren's wife, Monica Mullens, also 46, added that downtown areas are "struggling" in many cities across the country.

"The arts are a good way to rebuild the hearts of downtown areas," she said.

The Arts Center itself was the polling location for some voters in the MacArthur Park neighborhood, and a couple finished voting around noon also said they supported the bond.

"This is our community, and we want to support it," said Elizabeth Patterson, while her husband, Ralph joked "we don't want to go to North Little Rock."

Last year, the city agreed to hold the bond election, raise the hotel tax and dedicate $700,000 annually toward maintenance for the Arts Center after the foundation that owns the artwork within the building threatened to move its collection to North Little Rock.

At another polling location on Roosevelt Road near the State Fairgrounds, voters were sparse around 9 a.m.

Only one woman showed up over a roughly 30-minute period, and she declined to share her vote.

Polls will remain open until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The early voting period drew 863 ballots on the issue, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Tuesday.

— John Moritz

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