Election Commission Approves May 12 Vote

BY MELANIE BUCK –

The Polk County Election Commission held a meeting on Tuesday, March 3, to begin planning for the upcoming Special Sales Tax Election for a new Polk County Jail.

Polk County Clerk Teri Harrison said that all normal polling places will be used and early voting will be held at the Polk County Office Complex (the old hospital) on Pine Street in Mena. Early voting will start on Tuesday, May 5 and go through Monday, May 11. There will be no Saturday voting for this election. The Special Election will be held on Tuesday, May 12.

Voters will vote to either approve or deny a levy of a ¼ cent Sales and Use Tax on a permanent basis for the purpose of “an additional source of revenue to be used for one or more of the following: (a) to acquire, construct, improve, expand, equip, furnish, operate and maintain new or existing jail and law enforcement facilities, including any necessary land acquisition and utility, road and parking improvements related thereto or in support thereof and (b) to pay and secure the repayment of bonds approved by the voters and issued by the County from time to time to finance jail and law enforcement facilities and facilities related thereto or in support thereof (“Jail and Law Enforcement Bonds”).

Voters will also vote on the question of issuing bonds for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the cost of new jail and law enforcement facilities; levying a new ¾ cent Sales and Use Tax for the purpose of retiring such bonds. The ¾ cent tax would be used for “a new jail, sheriff’s office, arraignment room, 911 dispatch center, and administrative offices related to law enforcement and any necessary land acquisition and utility, road and parking improvements related thereto and in support thereof.” The bonds would not exceed the voter-authorized amount of $10.9 million.

Godfrey said it is a daily juggling process to manage the overcrowding issues and with a 6% inflation rate among construction costs and materials he said, “The longer we wait, the more it will cost to build a new jail.” If the proposal passes, Godfrey explained, “Then we will build it throughout the year so we can stop the overcrowding and start 2016 with a new jail.”

Harrison also said that the Election Commission is still seeking additional help for the Vandervoort polling station and that interested persons should contact the County Clerk’s office at 479-394-8123.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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