Little Rock Mayor Takes Tax Tour Looking for Votes
By: Bob Clausen, KARK 4 News
Updated: August 4, 2011
Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola is on a tax tour.
Next month, city residents will vote for or against upping the sales tax by one penny.
Over the next few weeks, voters will hear and see plenty for and against the tax proposal.
Wednesday, at the Willie Hinton center, Mayor Stodola was flanked by the city's police and fire chiefs and other leaders as he began a month-long tax lesson.
The mayor says the 5/8-cent operational tax and the 3/8-cent capital investment tax will fund police and fire department improvements and additions, creating jobs there and in other areas.
It will also fund park projects and invest in economic development like a technology park.
Mayor Stodola says Little Rock needs to compete, or be left behind.
"It is an issue of competition. It's an issue of competition with northwest Arkansas who already has a technology park. It's an issue of what's going on in FT. Smith and Bentonville and Springdale, all of who have higher sales tax than we do. It is an issue with Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Memphis and other parts of the region."
The issue will come down to the voters on September 13th.
The mayor is urging people to ask questions and learn as much as they can about the tax.
Click here for a breakdown on what the city promises with the passage of the tax measure.
Next month, city residents will vote for or against upping the sales tax by one penny.
Over the next few weeks, voters will hear and see plenty for and against the tax proposal.
Wednesday, at the Willie Hinton center, Mayor Stodola was flanked by the city's police and fire chiefs and other leaders as he began a month-long tax lesson.
The mayor says the 5/8-cent operational tax and the 3/8-cent capital investment tax will fund police and fire department improvements and additions, creating jobs there and in other areas.
It will also fund park projects and invest in economic development like a technology park.
Mayor Stodola says Little Rock needs to compete, or be left behind.
"It is an issue of competition. It's an issue of competition with northwest Arkansas who already has a technology park. It's an issue of what's going on in FT. Smith and Bentonville and Springdale, all of who have higher sales tax than we do. It is an issue with Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Memphis and other parts of the region."
The issue will come down to the voters on September 13th.
The mayor is urging people to ask questions and learn as much as they can about the tax.
Click here for a breakdown on what the city promises with the passage of the tax measure.
