Arkansas Voters Have Local Ballot Issues to Decide in May Election

by Kristin Higgins - April 7, 2025

Voters in a handful of Arkansas communities have special elections to decide May 13, the same day many school districts in Arkansas hold property tax and school board elections.

A recent change in state law limits cities and counties in Arkansas to holding special elections on two days of the year: the second Tuesday in May or the second Tuesday in November.

There is no central database of local elections in Arkansas. If you know of a special election taking place May 13 that’s not listed below, email us at publicpolicycenter@uada.edu so we can share.

Using media or election official announcements, we know there are local ballot issue elections taking place in these communities:

Cities

Berryville: Voters living in this city are being asked to change the expiration date of an existing 0.5% sales tax from 2030 to 2045, and to use the revenue to refinance an existing bond to raise $3.2 million and pay for additional bond issues. Those bond issues, which are also on the ballot, include (1) issuing $1.1 million in bonds for sewer system improvements, (2) $825,000 in bonds for water system improvements, (3) $4.6 million in bonds for street improvements, (4) $600,000 in bonds for parks and recreation projects, (5) $125,000 in bonds for fire department equipment purchases, and (6) $350,000 in bonds for police department equipment purchases.

Source:   Ballot titles

Booneville: Voters living in this city are being asked to approve a 1% city sales tax for five years, with a specific amount of the revenue going to streets and drainage, police, fire, senior center, airport, parks and recreation, city improvement, animal control, cemetery, and chamber of commerce.

Source: Ballot information on Logan County Election Commission Facebook

Bryant: Voters living in this city are being asked to refinance a past bond issue and to issue up to $33 million in new bonds to pay for the costs of a “convention, meeting and entertainment facility.” The election asks voters to renew an existing 0.5% sales tax to pay off the new bond debt that would otherwise expire once current bond debt is paid off.

Source: Ballot title

Cherry Valley: Voters living in this city are being asked to vote on a temporary 1% sales tax, with revenue being equally split for the purpose of a city park complex and the city's general fund. The sales tax would expire in five years. 

Source: City minutes and public notice

Dardanelle: Voters living in this city are being asked to vote on changing how revenue from an existing 1% sales tax can be used. The proposal asks voters to (1) issue $3,250,000 in bonds to pay off an existing bond issued in 2017, (2) issuing $3,950,000 in bonds to pay off an existing bond issued in 2018, and (3) issuing $9,775,000 in bonds to pay for water system improvements. The debt for all three proposals would be repaid with proceeds from the 1% sales tax and from revenues from the city's water and sewer system.

City minutes

Fort Smith: Voters living in this city are being asked to vote on (1) extending the expiration date of an existing 0.75% sales tax from 2030 to 2059 in order to pay for sewer system improvements and police department purposes, (2) levying a 1% sales tax to pay for sewer system improvements and streets, bridges and drainage work, and (3) issuing up to $385 million in bond issues to pay for the sewer system work proposed as part of the city’s consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for historic sewer overflows.

Source: Notice of Election

Horseshoe Bend: Voters living in this city are being asked to approve requiring a public vote on any future changes to the parks and recreation in the city. The local ballot issue seeks to prevent city council members from revoking, amending or modifying ownership of any facilities, grounds, equipment of the parks and recreation in the city or its amenities. 

Marion: Voters living in this city are being asked to renew a 1% sales tax that would otherwise expire once current bond debt is paid off. The revenue from the sales tax, if approved by voters, would be used to (1) refinance a past bond issue, (2) issue $7,950,000 in bonds to pay for street improvements, (3) issue $1,145,000 in bonds to pay for drainage projects, (4) issue $1,145,000 in bonds to pay for parks and recreation projects, (5) issue $3,450,00 in bonds to pay for fire department projects, (6) issue $805,000 in bonds to pay for police department improvements, (7) issue $8,520,000 in bonds to pay for sewer system improvements, (8) issue $8,520,000 in bonds to pay for water system improvements, (9) issue $375,000 in bonds to pay for library projects. Each bond issue is separate, but should voters approve any of the nine proposals, the 1% sales tax would be considered approved.

Source: City website

Parkin: Voters living in this city are being asked to vote on a temporary 2% sales tax, with the revenue going to the city's general fund. The sales tax would expire in five years. 

Source: Public notice

Russellville: Voters living in this city are being asked to vote on a temporary 1% sales tax, with the revenue being split in this manner: (1) 60% to streets, roads and drainage projects, (2) 10% to fire department and police department equipment purchases, (3) 15% for parks department projects or operating costs, and (4) 15% for economic development or capital improvement purposes. Sales tax collected on fuel sales at the city airport would be redirected to airport operations. The sales tax would expire in seven years. 

Source: City Ordinance 

Counties

Howard County: Voters living in this county are being asked to approve a 1% sales tax with the revenues being distributed to all cities in the county as well as county government. County revenue from the sales tax would be used in the following way: 10% of the revenue would be used for economic development purposes; 10% of the revenue would be used for the county hospital; 80% would be used for county general funds. How sales tax revenue would be used by cities would be up to those individual city councils. 

Source: Southwest Arkansas Radio

Fire Departments

Altus Rural Fire Department (Franklin County): Voters in this fire district are being asked to approve adding their existing fire dues to annual property tax bills.

Gravette Fire Department (Benton County): Voters in this fire district are being asked to approve adding their existing fire dues to annual property tax bills. The city fire department also serves addresses outside the city limits, and has full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters.

Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article

Pleasure Heights Volunteer Fire Department (Benton County): Voters in this fire district are being asked to increase their fire department dues from $40 to $100 a year. The fire dues included in homeowner and business owner property tax bills.

Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article

Reminder: Law Requires School Tax Rate on Ballot Even When No Changes

The Arkansas Constitution requires school districts to put their property tax rate on the ballot every year even if there are no increases or changes to millage rates.

If you see a school property tax listed on your sample ballot, look at the last sentence on the ballot. This is your clue.

• If your ballot says the levy or amount "represents the same rate presently being collected," the district is not asking for an increase. Votes cast in this situation will not affect the property tax rate even if a majority of voters mark Against Tax.
  
  
• If your ballot says the levy represents an increase, the district IS asking for a property tax increase. Votes cast in this situation will be counted, and the property tax rate would increase if a majority of voters mark For Tax.

Contact your county clerk's office if you have additional questions about this oddity of Arkansas law.