Tontitown voters will decide July 11 whether to increase the city sales tax to fund a connection to a regional water authority instead of using Springdale.
"We are trying to look at Tontitown's future," Mayor Paul Colvin said.
Water Tower update
Tontitown also plans to build a water tower to lessen the demand the city places on Springdale’s water system. The city would need the tower even if voters approve connecting to the Benton-Washington Regional Public Water Authority in July, officials said. Tontitown has a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for $1.2 million to pay for the tower.
Source: Staff report
City leaders will ask voters to approve a three-fourth cent sales tax to pay for a $7.8 million bond to connect to the Benton-Washington Regional Public Water Authority, according to a sample ballot approved Monday by the Washington County Election Commission.
The city's special election was set for July 11 during a commission meeting Monday. If approved, the city's overall sales tax would be 10.5 percent, up from 9.75 percent.
The authority provides water from Beaver Lake to 15 cities, according to its website. The authority has a flat rate of $2.34 per 1,000 gallons, said Scott Borman, general manager. If Tontitown connects to the authority, customers could see at least a 5 percent drop in water bills, city Public Works Director James Clark said.
Tontitown pays $3.28 per 1,000 gallons as of Jan. 1, up from $3.07 per 1,000 gallons last year, Clark said.
There's no connection fee to the authority's system, Borman said. The authority's water rate isn't expected to increase soon, Colvin said.
If approved, the connection would mean Tontitown can get as much water as it needs for growth and development for less money, Colvin said. The sales tax would sunset after the bond was paid off.
The project includes a roughly 7-mile water line that would be taken over by the authority once built, Borman said. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department would allow the city to use its road improvement easement along U.S. 412 for the line, Colvin said.
Tontitown gets its water from Springdale, and the contract stipulates an 18 million-gallons-per-month, or 600,000 gallons per day, cap on water use, Colvin said. Tontitown uses roughly 9 million gallons of water per month, he said. There is a $10,000 fine for exceeding Springdale's water-use limit.
Construction is up in Tontitown. Clark said he expects growing sales tax revenue and more building. The city has about 300 subdivision lots in development, he said.
The amount of water Springdale allows Tontitown is enough for the next few years, but after that, the city will begin regularly hitting that cap, Clark said. The sales tax for the water connection is vital to the city's health, he said.
"It's the only way for Tontitown to secure its growth and independence," he said.
NW News on 05/16/2017