Fact Sheet Available for Stone County Voters

by Kristin Higgins - February 6, 2020

Voters in Stone County will have several local ballot measures to decide when they go to vote in the March 3^rd Preferential Primary elections.

The Public Policy Center at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture partnered with the Stone County Extension Office to produce a fact sheet explaining two county-wide ballot issues.

Voters will decide two county ballot measures:

• A permanent 0.25% county-wide sales and use tax
• A temporary 0.5% county-wide sales and use tax and permission for Stone County to issue up to $5,995,000 in bonds

If voters pass the two ballot measures, the county government of Stone County would have the authority to issue up to $5,995,000 in bonds. Proceeds from the bond sale would be used to pay for building a 14,000-square-foot jail and law enforcement building with 60 jail beds. The building would also house the 911 emergency dispatch center and offices for the jail administrator.

Stone County would use proceeds from the temporary 0.5% sales tax to repay the bond debt and use funds from the permanent 0.25% sales tax to operate and maintain the jail.

The two taxes, if approved by voters, would increase the county’s sales tax rate from 1% to 1.75%. The sales tax rate would decrease to 1.25% after the bond issue is repaid after a period of eight to 10 years.

If approved by voters, the sales taxes would start being collected in July 2020.

Early voting for the election starts Tuesday, Feb. 18. Election Day is March 3. Stone County voters can check their voter status or find out where they’re supposed to vote on Election Day by calling the Stone County Clerk’s Office at 870-269-5550. You can also check your voter registration status online at www.voterview.ar-nova.org.

People who live in Stone County and are registered to vote are eligible to vote in this election.

Find More Information
The voter guide produced by the Public Policy Center includes more information about the Stone County ballot issue, including what supporters and opponents say, information about surrounding county sales taxes, and answers to voters’ frequently asked questions.

Download the fact sheet at www.uaex.uada.edu/business-communities/voter-education/docs/StoneCountyBallotIssue2020.pdf