Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

County-wide tax vote is Jine 12

Voters in Clark County are being asked to go to the polls on June 12 to consider a half cent sales tax to be used for economic development in the county.

Billy Tarpley, a resident of Gurdon and member of the Clark County Strategic Planning executive committee, addressed the Gurdon Rotary Club briefly on the topic on Thursday, May 24.

Our future is up in the air if we dont have this, he said.

If approved, the half cent sales tax would be collected for seven years and would produce an approximate $1.3 million per year. The money will be used not only to promote the area, but may also be used as local incentive money to get industries to expand in Clark County.

If any group stands to benefit fairly quickly its our area because of the railroad spur, Tarpley said of Gurdon and southern Clark County.

The tax was proposed by a unanimous vote of the Clark County Quorum Court.

Tarpley said several people have been attending local meetings of city councils, chambers of commerce and other community organizations seeking support for the tax. Thus far, he said the cities of Gurdon, Whelen Springs and Arkadelphia as well as the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce have endorsed the tax initiative, among others.

According to information obtained from the Clark County Strategic Planning committee, Clark County has lost 900 jobs over the last decade. Schools have also lost students, and since they are funded based on the number of students enrolled, they have also lost significant funding, the document says.

Tarpley said other communities around the state have implemented similar taxes, and have since seen growth. He said industries will start coming to you once they know incentive money may be available.

One problem Tarpley pointed out in attempting to get the initiative approved by voters is that people are stirring up misinformation.

He said voters in Arkadelphia are upset because that city recently ended a sales tax that collected more than was originally planned. The city allowed for rebates to those who requested them.

Tarpley said many are now saying that the tax situation in Arkadelphia was not handled properly, so now they will not vote for this tax. He said in reality, the amount of tax collected was only checked every six months as is normal procedure, and this allowed for the over-collection.

It wasnt mismanagement by anybody, he said. Thats just the way the system works.

Gurdon Mayor Clayton Franklin said he also supports the tax and was preparing a letter of support on Thursday.

Id support the tax, he said. Theres a dire need for it.

Franklin said there is a need to attract industry to Clark County. This has previously been done by the Clark County Industrial Council, but he said that group has been underfunded.

If approved, the new tax will be governed by a five-member board appointed by the county judge. Franklin said he hopes to have a representative from Gurdon on the board.