Contested Local Races

CONTESTED RACES

U.S. RACE

*Denotes Incumbant

U.S. SENATE

*Senator Tom Cotton

Micah Ashby

Jeb Little

STATE RACES

COMMISSIONER OF STATE LANDS

Secretary of State Cole Jester

Christian Olson

SECRETARY OF STATE

Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison

Bryan Norris

Senator Kim Hammer

COUNTY RACES

MARION COUNTY TREASURER

Cyndi Mueller

Amber Knowles

JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 9

Miles Wellein

John Rosenthal

NON-PARTISAN RACE

STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTCE POSITION 3

Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Nick Bronni

Marion County Republican Committee supports this candidate.

ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION

Millage for schools will be listed by law on ballot but there are no changes to Flippin, Lead Hill, Mtn. Home, Lead Hill, or Yellville-Summit. Ozark Mountain School District will be voting to decrease.

Ozark Mountain School District - The proposed tax includes the uniform rate of tax (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for the maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 34.0 mills includes 34.0 mills specifically for general maintenance and operation and 0.0 mills voted for the debt service. The total proposed school tax levy of 34.0 mills represents a decrease of 2.5 mills from the tax rate presently being collected.

Flippin School District - The total rate proposed above includes the uniform rate of tax 25.00 mills (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 36.40 mills includes 30.8 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation and 5.60 mills voted for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the District for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 36.40 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Lead Hill School District No. 4 - The total tax rate proposed above includes the uniform rate of tax (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 39.0 mills includes 25.9 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation and 13.1 mills voted for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The surplus revenues produced each year by debt service millage may be used by the District for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 39.0 mills represents the same rate presently being levied.

Mountain Home School District - The total tax rate proposed above includes the uniform rate of tax 25.29 mills (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 32.16 mills includes 25.29 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation and 6.87 mills voted for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The surplus revenues produced each year by debt service millage may be used by the District for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 32.16 mills represents the same rate presently being levied.

Yellville-Summit School District - 36.98 Total Mills School Tax this represents no change from the previous year. The total levy proposed above includes 39.98 for the maintenance and operation of schools, 25.00 dedicated maintenance and operation mills dedicated for general maintenance and operation purposes, and 11.98 mills for debt service previously voted as a continuing debt service tax pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The district may use surplus revenues produced each year by debt service millage for other school purposes.

ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION

Millage for schools will be listed by law on ballot but there are no changes to Flippin, Lead Hill, Mtn. Home, Lead Hill, or Yellville-Summit. Ozark Mountain School District will be voting to decrease.

Ozark Mountain School District - The proposed tax includes the uniform rate of tax (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for the maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 34.0 mills includes 34.0 mills specifically for general maintenance and operation and 0.0 mills voted for the debt service. The total proposed school tax levy of 34.0 mills represents a decrease of 2.5 mills from the tax rate presently being collected.

Flippin School District - The total rate proposed above includes the uniform rate of tax 25.00 mills (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 36.40 mills includes 30.8 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation and 5.60 mills voted for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the District for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 36.40 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Lead Hill School District No. 4 - The total tax rate proposed above includes the uniform rate of tax (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 39.0 mills includes 25.9 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation and 13.1 mills voted for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The surplus revenues produced each year by debt service millage may be used by the District for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 39.0 mills represents the same rate presently being levied.

Mountain Home School District - The total tax rate proposed above includes the uniform rate of tax 25.29 mills (the "Statewide Uniform Rate") to be collected on all taxable property in the State and remitted to the State Treasurer pursuant to Amendment No. 74 to the Arkansas Constitution to be used solely for maintenance and operation of schools in the State. As provided in Amendment No. 74, the Statewide Uniform Rate replaces a portion of the existing rate of tax levied by this School District and available for maintenance and operation of schools in this District. The total proposed school tax levy of 32.16 mills includes 25.29 mills specifically voted for general maintenance and operation and 6.87 mills voted for debt service previously voted as a continuing levy pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The surplus revenues produced each year by debt service millage may be used by the District for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 32.16 mills represents the same rate presently being levied.

Yellville-Summit School District - 36.98 Total Mills School Tax this represents no change from the previous year. The total levy proposed above includes 39.98 for the maintenance and operation of schools, 25.00 dedicated maintenance and operation mills dedicated for general maintenance and operation purposes, and 11.98 mills for debt service previously voted as a continuing debt service tax pledged for the retirement of existing bonded indebtedness. The district may use surplus revenues produced each year by debt service millage for other school purposes.

Marion County Republican Committee does not support either tax.

1. Fiscal and Economic Concerns

High Initial Costs: Construction requires massive upfront investment requiring this tax hike. A 0.5% sales and uses tax for approximately 21-26 years for a bond issue of $16.5 million for a building that Marion County will ultimately pay about $27 million.
Operating Deficits: Studies have shown community centers rarely turn a profit and will require ongoing taxpayer subsidies to cover maintenance, utilities, and staffing, which will drain government budgets. The proposed community center would be staffed and maintained by county employees by an additional 0.25% sales tax. This same percentage does not fully pay the county employees and maintenance to run the current Law Enforcement Center.
Hidden Costs: Expenses always exceed initial estimates due to construction delays, rising material costs, or unforeseen, long-term maintenance needs.
Unpopularity of User Fees: To stay afloat, centers will implement membership or program fees, which are unpopular and limits access for the very residents they are intended to serve.
Counties Do Not Operate Community Centers: Community centers across the state are financed by the cities where they are located. The county should not be in the business of running a community center. They are a financial strain to an already limited budget. If it was such a good idea Marion County would probably not have been the first to have taken it on.

2. Usage and Operational Viability

Low Utilization Risks: There is no guarantee the center will be used as intended; it may end up as an expensive, empty building that wastes public money.
Land for Construction: Over the years, citizens have been told by the non-profit organization, the 25 acre m/l piece of property was purchased “for the people”. The organization stated to the quorum court it would be willing to give the county the “foot print” of the building plus a parking lot. The County has a lot on the line financially and in previous administration contributed a $50,000 community grant to purchase 2 acres to give access to highway 14 for this non-profit entity. The current County Judge ·requested more and the organization’s representatives agreed to give 10 of the 25 acres to the county. The bond issue allows for “the purchase of property”. If the proposed community center is given just a “footprint” or even 10 acres this private non-profit controls all the surrounding land. How would it benefit the county? And just who are “the people” the funds have been raised for?
Swimming Pool: The proposed pool is not Olympic-size and would not be conducive to having swim meets in the facility. The cost of insurance, training for lifeguards, liability, and utilities would be a financial burden on citizens of the county.

3. Equity and Socioeconomic Factors:

Accessibility Issues: High membership fees can create a "pay-to-play" environment, making the center inaccessible to low-income families.
Other Facilities Available: Both the cities of Mountain Home and Harrison have significantly larger facilities and can offer more programs.
Misplaced Priorities: Funding a community center will divert resources from more essential services, such as police, road maintenance, or other county departments that serve the residents of Marion County.

4. A Comparable taxes

Tax Base: The cities of Harrison with estimated population of 14,000 people and Mountain Home with estimated population of 13,300 people have industry and are commercial hubs to support their community centers. Marion County is estimated to have 17,000 people in the entire county with a limited retail base. The citizens of Marion County are not in the same financial situation as Harrison, Mountain Home, or other cities where community centers are located. Marion County does not have the tourism base as our surrounding areas.

WHAT IS ON BALLOT?

CONTESTED RACES

UNCONTESTED RACES