Sebastian County voters will decide whether or not to continue the one cent sales and use tax for another 10 years. The special election will be held on Tuesday, August 8.
County Judge Steve Hotz said the tax will sunset in June 2024. Voters will determine if cities and towns within the county will be able to continue to budget the tax as a source of revenue. The tax generated more than $33.7 million in 2022. Sebastian County received $4.8 million and the rest was divided among the 11 cities and towns in the county. The amount cities and towns receive is population based.
The Sebastian County Quorum Court approved a resolution to ensure that the county’s share the revenue will be budgeted the same way it is now should the tax be renewed. The money will be designated as follows:
Operation of the county jail: 54.5%
Operation of the county Juvenile Detention Center: 9%
Funding and support of three Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies providing law enforcement services in unincorporated areas of the county: 9%
Capital projects: 11%
Improving county volunteer rural fire departments: 5%
Supporting Sebastian County Emergency Medical Services: 2%
Improving services provided by the senior citizens’ centers the county supports: 1%
Improving the programs of the Scott-Sebastian Regional Library, including building expansion as necessary: 0.5%
County employee health care and worker’s compensation: 7%
Operation of county parks: 1%
Historically, the tax has helped pay for: Parrot Island Waterpark with Fort Smith, an ambulance facility in Greenwood and new ambulances.
In 2022 the revenue cities and towns received from the one cent sales and use tax:
Fort Smith received $23.554 million (69.8%)
Greenwood received $2.5 million (7.4%)
Lavaca received $642,358 (1.9%)
Barling received $1.254 million (3.7%)
The remainder of the tax was split among Hackett (0.6%), Bonanza (0.5%), Mansfield (0.5%), Central City (0.4%), Hartford (0.4%), and Midland (0.2%)
The county also receives a portion (14.2% in 2022) based on the population who live in the county. The tax makes up about 10% of the county’s funds.
Voters will ultimately decide if the one cent sales and use tax will continue. City leaders and Judge Hotz were clear, without the funding, cuts will have to be made.
