GREENWOOD -- Sebastian County voters can look forward to deciding whether to help fund the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith by extending an existing 0.25% sales tax in November.
The Quorum Court voted Tuesday to approve an ordinance calling a special election on Nov. 3 on the question of extending the tax for another 10 years. County Judge David Hudson said May 21 that of the 1.25% county sales tax, 0.25% goes toward the university.
UAFS Chancellor Terisa Riley told the institution's board of visitors during a meeting May 13 that the University of Arkansas System board of trustees unanimously passed a resolution on May 4 in support of placing the extension of the sales tax before voters.
The tax, which was approved in 2001, took effect Jan. 1, 2002, and ends Jan. 1, 2022. Arkansas Act 1087 of 2013 gave UAFS the authority to request a sales-tax extension.
The ordinance states that before the sales tax, between 1965 and 2001, Sebastian County voters supported UAFS, and its predecessor Westark College, through property taxes.
State Desk on 05/28/2020