Just when we were looking for some meat to go with our potatoes for the upcoming NLAN May Meeting up pops Mayor Hays with news that he wants to increase our NLR sales tax! According to the news article Mayor Hays' action time table is as follows:
1) April 14th City Council Meeting: Introduce his formal plan to the City Council.
2) April 28th City Council Meeting: Asking the City Council to approve calling a special tax election.
3) July 8th: Special Sales Tax Election Date for NLR Voters.
Immediately following Mayor Hays' tax proposal at a NLR Chamber of Commerce luncheon Friday many eyebrows and tongues went into action regarding the merits of this additional sales tax. Needless to say this topic will be on our front burner during the Month of April! The timing couldn't be much better!
NLAN is scheduled to have a regular association meeting on Monday, May 5th at 7:00 PM - location to be announced. If Mayor Hays' time frame holds water then just prior to our meeting the City Council will either have just approved his request for a special tax election, proposed a delay for further fact finding, or defeated it. We will extend invitations to our Ward 4 Aldermen Hight & Witcher to join us for our May meeting, at which time they will be asked to talk about the Mayor's proposed sales tax increase, regardless as to it's then current status.
Thus if the special sales tax election has been called or postponed, to provide their reasons for voting to support or oppose same. If the proposed election has been defeated, to provide their reasons for their vote pro or con, and to offer their thoughts on an alternative solution in meeting the city's financial requirements!
Yes, our May NLAN Meeting promises to be very informative and contemporary. Stay tuned for it's location announcement - for you don't want to miss it!
Nate Brandes - NLAN President
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2 comments:
At a time when fuel prices are skyrocketing. Which has increased the cost of most everything we buy we DO NOT NEED MORE TAXES!!!
The tax for the ball field & his senior center finally drops off and the mayor can't wait to add another tax back on. First he wanted one for the schools but they didn't support it so now he wants to add on 1.5%.
I know part of it is for a raise for city workers, he could use the money that he's going to spend for a special election. (I think I saw somewhere that a special election cost $100.000)
We have to budget to make ends meet, maybe its time for the city follow a budget.
We have a general election in Nov. Why not wait till then and get an answer from all of the voting public.
The problem with the sales tax is that many sectors of the business world are exempt from it. The mayor is an attorney & the sales tax does not apply to legal services. Nor does it apply to any form of advertising in Arkansas (newspapers, billboards, radio & TV, bus benches & signs on them), hair cuts and beauty salon services, etc. etc .etc.They could get all the money they'd ever need if the remaining exemptions were eliminated and probably be able to reduce the percentage rates significantly. They eliminated a few exemptions in the last regular legislative session and dire consequences were predicted by those business groups but have you seen any dry cleaners, min-storage buildings, marinas and tattoo artists leave the state?
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