Cave Springs' attempt to annex an unincorporated area failed Tuesday, according to preliminary results.
Final, unofficial totals show:
Against 372
For 119
The annexation area of about 2,800 acres included the unincorporated part of Arkansas 265 between Cave Springs and Highfill. The annexation would have increased the city's size by more than 55%, from 5,043 acres to 7,842 acres, Mayor Randall Noblett said.
"That's unfortunate, but that is OK," Noblett said Tuesday night. "That is why we have an election system -- so the will of the people will win."
Cave Springs is on a sewer system that will be nearing capacity in the next two to three years, he said. The city plans to build a traditional sewer system that connects to the Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority in Bentonville. The authority runs a regional wastewater treatment plant.
The annexation would have improved police and fire protection and street and maintenance planning to the greater community, Noblett has said. It also would have helped secure lower water rates for people in the city as well as people in the area that would have come into the city, he said.
In Washington County, Johnson residents approved a temporary 1% sales tax to back a $7.3 million street bond issue.
Final, unofficial totals show:
For 113
Against 39.
The sales tax will raise the city's tax rate from 2% to 3% until the debt is repaid, which is estimated to occur around 2046, according to a city website. The city plans to use the revenue from the bond sales to make curb, gutter and drain improvements and for utility adjustments and sidewalks.
Bond revenue would be used to construct phase A of the Main/Wilkerson street project, Johnson Mayor Chris Keeney said.
Johnson residents also approved a separate 1% sales tax on prepared food and lodging to fund city park improvements.
Final, unofficial totals show:
For 112
Against 39.
Voters in the Boston Mountain and Sunset fire districts of Washington County approved the opportunity to pay fire dues with annual personal property tax bills.
Final, unofficial totals in the Boston Mountain district show:
For 54
Against 23
Final, unofficial totals in Sunset district show:
For 32
Against 0
The tax is listed as voluntary. A property owner is covered in the event of a fire if he pays the $50 annual due. The property owner will otherwise be billed for the response if a fire occurs.
The Boston Mountain Fire District has 727 residential structures and 15 commercial structures, according to information from the Washington County assessor's office. The Sunset Fire District has 181 residential structures and no commercial structures, Assessor Russell Hill previously said.
Results still will need to be certified by the election commissions in both counties.