Maumelle voters will decide three ballot questions today that would raise the city's sales tax if approved in a special election.
Polls will be open 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
The ballot issues are: A one-half percent tax to support a $15.59 million bond issue that would pay for the city to build a planned interchange to connect Counts Massie Road with Interstate 40; a one-half percent tax for a $2.3 million bond issue to extend sewer service into the city's north end around an Interstate 40 interchange in the Morgan area; and a one-half percent "public safety" tax.
Even if both bond issues are approved, the maximum tax for that portion will be one-half percent. The tax would end once the bonds are paid off. The public safety tax, primarily to fund city police and fire departments, would be permanent.
If voters approve the public safety tax and either or both of the bond issues, the city sales tax will be raised by 1 percentage point. Maumelle's total tax rate would increase to 9.5 percent, which would include the current 1 percent city tax, a 6.5 percent state tax and a 1 percent Pulaski County tax.
Early voting last week was heavy with 1,250 votes cast through Monday. That's more votes cast than during early voting in neighboring North Little Rock's successful special sales tax election in August, which drew 1,150 early votes. North Little Rock has more than three times the population of Maumelle.
Maumelle Vision for the Future, a group working through the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce and backed by developers and landowners, has been the lead promoter of the taxes. Opposition has been mostly confined to individuals posting on community social media sites.
The permanent public safety tax would help fund the city's police and fire departments, but could also support a variety of uses, including backup revenue for the two bond issues if necessary, according to the ballot wording.
If the public safety tax passes, the Maumelle City Council has pledged through legislation approved in December to eliminate a community service fee charged for police and fire services. The fee, $6 per month and billed quarterly, would go away in September once the new tax revenue is collected.
The new interchange at I-40 would help redirect some traffic off of Maumelle Boulevard, city officials have said. Tax supporters have said that the new interchange would also draw commercial development into Maumelle. The city plans to annex 240 acres for development at the interchange site if that bond tax passes.
The sewer expansion would extend services and improvements on commercial property inside Maumelle's city limits and to some properties outside of the city limits that are planned to be annexed, Mayor Mike Watson has said. City officials have said they expect that area to also draw new development if the sewer bond tax passes.
Metro on 03/13/2018