Little Rock gross sales tax proposal neighborhood conferences kick off Thursday evening

Brian Chilson

The town of Little Rock’s newest try to extend the native gross sales tax to fund parks, police and infrastructure will kick off tonight with a collection of public conferences at which residents can get particulars on the proposal and provide suggestions. 

To ensure that the plan to seem earlier than voters in November, the town board first should vote to put it on the poll. The present effort follows Little Rock voters’ rejection of a gross sales tax enhance in 2021. Mayor Frank Scott Jr. additionally pursued a tax enhance final yr earlier than pulling the idea in August.

The most recent plan, known as Outcomes for The Rock, focuses on what Scott calls the “4 P’s” of public security, public infrastructure, parks and recreation, and the Port of Little Rock, in line with a metropolis press launch.

Scott supplied broad strokes however few particulars on the plans within the announcement, saying the proposal would give attention to “superior expertise and innovation” for the police division and new leisure alternatives for youngsters and youth. Metropolis spokesman Aaron Sadler mentioned extra particulars on the plans can be made accessible at public conferences set to happen in each of the city’s seven wards throughout the month of May.

The press launch didn’t say how a lot the plan proposes elevating the gross sales tax. Shoppers in Little Rock now pay an 8.625% fee on most purchases, of which 6.5% goes to the state, 1% goes to Pulaski County and 1.125% goes to the town.

Scott’s plan final yr proposed elevating the tax by one other 1%, which might have raised the entire fee to 9.625% A portion of Scott’s plan would have expired after 10 years.  

In 2021, Scott proposed elevating the town gross sales tax to fund quite a lot of initiatives, together with a multi-sports complicated, neighborhood law enforcement officials, early childcare and funding for the Little Rock Zoo. Voters rejected that proposal 62% to 38%. The vote got here within the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial downturn it introduced, and shortly after the civil strife over the dying of George Floyd by the hands of police.

The town will host seven conferences this month, starting with the Ward 5 assembly at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 4501 Rahling Street at 6 p.m. Thursday. Right here’s the total assembly schedule: 

Thursday, Might 2: Ward 5, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Street

Monday, Might 13: Ward 4, Unitarian Universalist Church, 1818 Reservoir Street

Wednesday, Might 15: Ward 2, Southwest Group Heart, 6401 Baseline Street

Thursday, Might 16: Ward 1, Dunbar Group Heart, 1001 W. sixteenth St.

Monday, Might 20: Ward 6, The Centre at College Park, 6401 W. twelfth St.

Wednesday, Might 29, Ward 3: Saint Mark Baptist Church, 5722 W. twelfth St.

Thursday, Might 30, Ward 7, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 5300 Stagecoach Street

All conferences will start at 6 p.m.

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