Arkansas Times: Little Rock Voters Support Tax Hikes

On September 13, Little Rock residents will have the choice to vote for or against two tax increases that will total a one-penny hike.

The special election calls for two separate votes on a permanent 5/8 cent "operations" tax increase and a 10-year temporary 3/8 cent "capital investment" tax increase.

The combined one-cent sales tax increase would generate an estimated $45 million annually for the city of Little Rock.

We’ve reported on the two sides squared off in the debate previously.

The Arkansas Times commissioned a poll from Impact Management Group that shows both taxes would pass if the election were today.

Reports Max Brantley from the Arkansas Times:

Broad support for both the 5/8ths of a cent tax for city operations (62-27) and the 3/8ths of a cent for capital needs (55-32).

The poll covered 400 people identified as registered Little Rock voters. Some factors I noted in the sample: A hefty two-thirds of respondents said they definitely were going to vote. Turnout won’t match that.

White voters and Democratic voters heavily outweighed blacks and Republicans in the sample. The conventional wisdom has been that the proposal will fare poorly among black voters and that a key factor could be the more conservative western reaches of Little Rock, which trend Republican and vote heavily. However, 30 percent of the sample came from Ward 5, the westernmost city zone.

You can read more at this link.