Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Property Tax Issue Looms Over Voters In November (cont)

l be eliminated. Teachers would have to be terminated.

Arkansas could wind up with only 10 or 15 school districts statewide, Ross said.

However, the loss of education wouldn't be the only negative aspect facing the state if the issue passes. Ross said we wouldn't be able to attract new business and industry to Arkansas, which would hamper the state's economic development efforts.

The money, he said, wouldn't be there to recruit industry, and few industries would want to locate in a state which would have the educational problems Arkansas would face.

"This would be like putting a sign up saying we don't want industry in Arkansas," Ross said. "The entire economy of the state would suffer. We won't be able to compete."

Additionally, Ross said, the legislature will be looking at removing the sales tax on food items during the 1999 session. But, if the property tax is removed, this can't be done.

Gurdon Superintendent Bobby Smithson opposed the issue as well. He said the Arkansas School Administrator's Association and Arkansas School Board Association are mounting their opposition to it also.

"It would reduce revenue to districts," he said. "I'm concerned about it. It could put a stop to building."

This issue could be seriously problematical for the Gurdon School District at this time as well. The district is seeking a three mill increase in property tax to help with renovations at Gurdon Primary School, to build a new football field, field house and physical education facility for the new Cabe Middle School.

Under the provisions of the proposed amendment, even if the residents passed this increase, it would be moot as of Jan. 1, 1999 when the amendment would become law.

This would mean the district couldn't do the upgrade or build the other buildings as planned.