5 Fort Smith Directors to campaign for 1% tax

Five Fort Smith City Directors note unequivocally that they will actively campaign for passage of the 1% prepared food tax if and when it goes before voters.

The tax was approved by the board in February as a solution to an annual deficit with Fort Smith Convention Center operations predicted to occur when $1.8 million in annual state turnback money dried up. The state turnback program — which supported expansion or construction of tourism facilities — ended for Fort Smith in June 2010. The center has since operated on a reserve fund.

The last few months have included a petition drive to force the tax to an election and a court hearing that essentially overturned the city’s rejection of the petition drive. The furor over the tax led Director Pam Weber to propose, in last week’s (July 12) study session, that the board send the tax to the people for approval.

The board is expected to soon consider an ordinance that would repeal the original 1% prepared food tax ordinance, re-adopt the 1% prepared food tax and submit the measure to the people in a referendum, which would take place on a yet-to-be-determined date in November.

‘DOOR TO DOOR’
“I will actively campaign for the 1% prepared food tax. I have said throughout this
process that we need this revenue source, but just wanted the people to have the right to vote on it,” City Director Don Hutchings noted in a response to a questionnaire The City Wire sent to all directors. “Our Convention Center is such an important part of our economic success in Fort Smith. After recently coming on the A&P Commission, I was so pleased to see (the) inside story of the giant impact of our Convention Center. So many people benefit from its use.”

City Director Steve Tyler, who is retired, is ready to get to work.

“I will go door to door in Ward 1 with door hangers if they are made available by a group which supports the (prepared food tax) talking with residents. I will be willing to call likely voters in my Ward if given the lists. I will work the phones the day of the vote to make sure people have voted and will take them to vote if they need a ride. I feel this is the most important issue our city faces and will define the direction we take,” Tyler said.

Merry and Weber, who both included support for a 1% tax in their election campaigns, have also ready to solicit voter support.

“I said before I was elected I was for the tax and I’ll be out campaigning for it,” Weber said. “I’m going to do whatever is asked of me. I’ll be very vocal about it and the benefits of the prepared food tax.”

CAMPAIGN METHODS, MESSAGE
Merry says the key to voter approval of the tax is to solicit support and involvement from groups who use the convention center and young professionals.

“I will promote to all groups who will use the FSCC and to any group in FS that would have me address their audience,” Merry noted in his e-mail response. “I will approach as many businesses as possible in the community and spread all of the positives of the FSCC in the new plan. I will continue to beckon upon the youth and young professionals in our region to step forward. It is their future that is at stake.”

Hutchings is not sure what specifically he will do to campaign for the tax, but is confident “that when people see the huge return on their 1% they will make this ‘investment’ for our future.”

City Director Andre Good said he plans to do a lot of direct campaigning for the tax.

“I will continue to meet with citizens individually and appear before civic groups. I will also make myself accessible for other meetings, reply to e-mails, and take out time to discuss the issues with constituents while going about my day-to-day affairs,” Good said.

During his meetings with constituents, Good is likely to couch the 1% vote in a larger context. In his response to The City Wire, Good noted: “I will not be lulled into complacency over the good news of Mitsubishi, Mars, Umarex, Graphic Packaging, Golden Living, Sykes, Planters and other new businesses and expansions. We have to continue to move Fort Smith forward as we compete in this global market. It is not about what other cities have done. It is about what we are doing. Now is the time for Fort Smith to lead. When we do that, we will grow, we will prosper, and we will be the standard by which other cities are judged.”

NO SOLID FRONT
Weber said she hopes the seven-member board will present a united front for the tax.

“When the board votes on an issue, even if I’m on the losing side, I need to be for that issue because that’s the board’s decision. I would hope we could have a solid front on this issue,” Weber said.

That’s not going to happen. City Director George Catsavis is not likely to campaign for the tax.

“As you know I have been opposed to the 1% food tax. I have always felt that the convention center could be run more efficiently and that there are some thing that could be done to increase income along with cost cutting measures,” Catsavis wrote. “The convention center is a business and should be run like one. Now it’s up to the voters to decide this issue. This issue has divided this city and it’s time to resolve it and move on and focus on the future of Fort Smith.”

When pressed to answer if we will actively campaign against the tax, Catsavis did not provide a direct answer.

“I feel that most voters have made up their minds regarding the food tax issue. If the election were held tomorrow most would know how they are going to vote.” Catsavis said.

Likewise, City Director Kevin Settle would not directly answer if he would campaign for or against the tax, or remain neutral.

“I have done many months of additional research and homework on this issue. I have attended all meeting and heard public discussion. The city is committed to keep the convention center open, therefore it is my obligation as city director to educate the citizens about what services will be cut if the tax fails. Education of the voters will be done face to face, emails, facebook, print media, and online media,” Settle said.

When given a second chance to directly answer if he would campaign for or against the tax, Settle noted: “I want to educate the citizens to better understand the cost and benefits of the convention center, so they can make an informed vote. I will also educate the citizens of fort smith on what services will be cut if the tax fails.”