THREE RIVERS AREA — A Batesville citywide sales-and-use tax proposal was shot down at the polls.
More than 2,100 voters turned out in Batesville Tuesday to voice their opinions on the proposed 1 1/4-cent sales-and-use tax increase.
A 1-cent temporary sales-and-use tax; a levied one-quarter-cent permanent sales-and-use tax; community center bonds, which would not exceed $26,050 million; and parks bonds, which would not exceed $18,950 million, were the four issues on the ballot.
The 40-member Moving Batesville Forward Task Force proposed a $45 million project that would have included building baseball fields and softball fields on a 245-acre parcel off of Gap Road, then razing Fitzhugh Park. The 29-acre park would be the location for a 70,000-square-foot community center that would have included indoor and outdoor aquatic centers with a therapy pool, an indoor walking track and basketball court, meeting rooms, banquet facilities, tennis and racquetball courts and a splash park. Batesville’s North Complex would have been used for adult leagues.
The majority of the votes were against each of the four questions on the ballot. All in all, the average defeat on the total of the four questions was by 75 votes, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh said.
“I’ve had several calls, since the defeat, from individuals calling that said, ‘Do not let this die,’” Elumbaugh said. “We have to ask ourselves, ‘What does the community want?’ Was the project too large? Would they like to see us scale back on the ball fields?”
The task force met Wednesday and those questions were asked among the members.
Elumbaugh said the task force members decided to sit back for 30 days and come back and re-assess the issue.
“No. 1, we need to listen to our citizens,” Elumbaugh said. “This is for them. They’re the ones who need to be comfortable with it.”
Even though Elumbaugh and the task force members touted the economic benefits of the recreational complex, others believe that it maynot be such a good idea.
“Economic Development is about creating and retaining jobs,” Ed Mabry, director Independence County Economic Development, wrote in an e-mail in response to the question: Would or wouldn’t the proposed recreational complex have boosted the economic development of the city or county? “The types of jobs you attract depends on your infrastructure. A sand-processing company needs rail access. Without it, they won’t even consider your community. An I.T. company needs good internet/broadband service. An Aviation company needs a good airport. The better the infrastructure, the better chance we have attracting jobs.
“Good, high paying jobs will allow the people we have here now to stay and not move away, and their children can get jobs here too and not have to move away to find work and support themselves. People with jobs pay taxes and buy or rent houses, buy groceries weekly, and have money to shop in the local stores. As this happens, your traffic count on the roads go up, and this attracts better retail businesses to your area. If shopping is good, and you have other activities, like the White River [Water] Carnival, the [Ozark Foothills] Film Fest and Downtown Batesville, then tourism increases. As all these things take place, then tax revenues grow, and the city and county have funds to do projects that enhance quality of life here.”
Batesville wasn’t alone in voting down proposed tax increases.Saline County voters also turned down a proposed 1-cent salesand-use tax planned for building a new fair complex.
Regardless of the outcome, Elumbaugh said he is proud of the voters for letting their voices be heard.
“I highly commend the citizens for going to the polls,” Elumbaugh said.
- jbrosius@ arkansasonline.com
Three Rivers, Pages 113 on 08/15/2010