Little Rock city officials have approved a special election for a sales tax increase. If approved by voters, the 1% increase would dedicate new funding for economic development and the Port of Little Rock, public safety, parks and recreation and infrastructure improvements.
This marks the second attempt by Mayor Frank Scott Jr. to oversee passage of a sales tax increase; a similar one-cent increase was rejected by voters in 2021.
Several members of the public spoke against the proposal in a City Board meeting Tuesday. Little Rock resident Osyrus Bolly said new funding for police included in the tax increase would be better spent on community programs.
“Reinvesting funds into the city; community services including mental health support, affordable housing, education and social services. These are the programs that aim to reduce the demand for police intervention by addressing the issues of homelessness, substance abuse and mental health crises at their source,” Bolly said.
Others in the audience argued the tax increase would boost tourism to the city through greater public safety and investments in new youth sports facilities. Joshua Baxter said the increase would equate to about $200 annually for someone making the city’s median income of roughly $66,000.
“That’s less than a carwash subscription, that’s less than a family Spotify account, and that’s right on par with a standard Netflix account,” Baxter said. “If we care about our city, and we care about Little Rock being the best city… this is something that we all, all 200,000-plus-minus of us, have to vote for.”
Coffy Davis said sales taxes are regressive, and unfairly impact low-income residents who haven’t been able to take part in the planning process for the tax proposal.
“They’re not just not coming because they don’t care, they can’t attend them,” Davis said, referencing a series of public meetings held to discuss the proposal. “They don’t have childcare, they work a job that won't let them off, and if they get off one more time they’re fired. And they barely make enough money, they’re sharing Netflix accounts. So when I hear people talking about those kind of things I’m like, ‘where do they live?’”
Little Rock residents will vote on two separate items for the increase; one is a five-eighths percent tax to fund capital improvements, which will sunset after ten years. The other is a permanent three-eighths percent tax to fund infrastructure, parks and public safety.
While no officials responded directly to residents’ concerns over the proposal, at-large City Director Antwan Phillips thanked the public for their input.
“We do hear you. I don’t want people to leave here and think that their voice has not been heard,” Phillips said.
City directors voted to amend the proposal slightly in Tuesday’s meeting, reducing funding for an outdoor sports complex and instead dedicating it to solid waste services. All city directors voted in favor of setting the special election, except for at-large City Director Joan Adcock, who voted present, and Ward 2 City Director Ken Richardson, who was absent.
Little Rock residents will get a chance to vote on the proposal on Election Day, November 5.
