Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Amendment 3 would severely effect city, school as much needed revenue would be unavailable

What will happen to the City of Gurdon and the Gurdon School District if Amendment 3 passes on November 5?

According to Gurdon City mayor, Clayton Franklin, Gurdon will suffer greatly. "Most city and county government will lose up to 30 percent of it's tax revenue. Gurdon will loose more than that from what I have estimated. Our local grocery store is our tax base."

"If Amendment 3 passes on November 5, Gurdon will lose close to 50 percent of it's tax revenue", said city recorder/treasurer Tambra Smith.

On October 21, the Gurdon City Council met for regular session and passed a proposed resolution opposing the passage of the proposed Amendment 3.

The resolution reads: Amendment 3, the proposed constitutional amendment to abolish and prohibit the taxation of food and medicine has been certified to be on the November 5 ballot and, the passage of Amendment 3 would result in the loss of approximately 30 percent of Arkansas' municipal sales tax revenue and, the loss of this revenue could result in the reduction or loss of numerous municipal services such as law enforcement, fire protection, public works projects, solid waste pick-up, animal control, parks and recreation services and, the passage of Amendment 3 could do long term damage to the quality of life to every Arkansan. Therefore, the City of Gurdon opposes initiated Amendment 3 and urges all of the citizens of Gurdon to work to defeat this amendment in the November 5, 2002, election.

When asked for his comments on proposed Amendment 3, Gurdon School District Superintendent, Bobby Smithson said, "It worries me. I know we would take a big cut in funds; however, I know the tax money would be taken in from something else. I feel our funds would be coming from somewhere.

"I myself am opposed to the amendment, but feel we would work something out if the amendment passes."