Fort Smith Board OKs street tax committee, notes pending Bushkuhl retirement

A committee will soon be formed to provide citizen input on more than $20 million collected each year by the city of Fort Smith through its 1% street tax program. The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted 6-1 Tuesday (June 16) to create the committee that was not endorsed by a city department head.

Talk of a citizen committee to help prioritize infrastructure spending first arose during the recent runup to the May 12 special election to renew the city’s 1% sales tax for street, bridge and drainage work. That tax generates around $20 million a year, and was renewed for another 10 years by almost 80% of those who voted in the special election.

Since 1985, the money has been spent based upon priorities set in a five-year “Capital Improvement Program” (CIP) developed by city staff and approved by the Board. In a memo from Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman to City Administrator Ray Gosack, the purpose of the proposed committee “would be to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors regarding prioritization of capital improvement projects funded by the 1% sales tax dedicated to streets, bridges and associated drainage.”

Stan Snodgrass, director of engineering for the city, said during a June 9 study session that he opposed creation of the committee. He said the committee will be “another layer that we have to go through” and could cause delays in getting the plan to the Board.

Responding to a question from City Director Don Hutchings, Snodgrass reiterated his concern Tuesday night about the “layer” that will add time to what he said is already a time-consuming process.

“Something’s got to give,” Snodgrass said about the time element of working with a committee.

There was little discussion on the issue, and the only dissenting vote was from Hutchings.

Tuesday’s meeting also marked the final time City Finance Director Kara Bushkuhl will present the city’s “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report” to the Board. Bushkuhl, who has been with the city for 35 years, is set to retire Oct. 6.

“Since starting in 1980, Kara has worked with 7 city administrators, 4 mayors, and nearly 40 city board members. She’s prepared 35 audits and CAFR’s, 35 budgets, dozens of bond offerings, seen nearly 13 million water bills sent to customers, 700,000 payroll checks issued to employees, and made a gazillion journal entries,” City Administrator Ray Gosack said in a prepared statement during the board meeting. “Hallmarks of Kara’s work are her tremendous passion and attention to detail. Kara’s legacy will be her insistence on full disclosure, upholding the highest standards of integrity, implementing financial controls to safeguard the public’s resources, and encouraging staff development.”

According to city info, Bushkuhl and her staff during her tenure have earned 29 consecutive certificates for excellence in financial reporting and 26 consecutive distinguished budget presentations as determined by the international Government Finance Officers Association. The awards are based on specific criteria for budget reporting and comprehensive financial audit reporting.