Arkansas Voters Have Local Ballot Issues to Decide in November Election

Counties with Special Elections

Little River County: Voters in this county have a referendum on their ballot regarding an order of the County Court (this is another name for the county judge position) titled "Issuance of Industrial Development Revenue Bonds by Little River County, Arkansas dated July 16, 2025." A local ballot issue group circulated a petition and collected enough voter signatures to put the matter on the ballot for voters countywide to decide. In this instance, a FOR vote would keep the county judge's order in effect and an AGAINST vote would void the order.

Source: Little River County Elections

Marion County: Voters in this county are being asked to approve a permanent 0.5% sales and use tax to be used for jail and law enforcement purposes.

Source: Marion County ordinance

Cities with Special Elections

Bella Vista: Voters 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 in the amount of $6,175,000, (2) refinance a past bond issue in the amount of $5,120,000, (3) issue $8 million in bonds to pay for renovating and improving fire station No. 1 and the city administration complex, (4) issue $6 million in bonds to build a new fire station, buy fire trucks and upgrade ambulances, (5) issue $6,100,000 in bonds to pay for for street improvements, and (6) issue $3 million to pay for police department communication facilities and new police cars.

Source: Benton County Election Information Website

Conway: Voters in this city are being asked to approve a total of six questions on the ballot, which include three separate sales tax proposals. If approved, the sales tax rate would increase by 0.75%, from 2.25% to 3%.

The questions include: (1) issuing $52,950,000 in bonds to pay for building an outdoor musical venue, with a 0.375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt, (2) issuing $30,965,000 in bonds to pay for building a city convention center, with a 0.375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt, (3) issuing $11,060,000 to purchase and renovate the former Grand Theater into an arts venue, with a 0375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt, (4) issuing $11,060,000 in bonds to make improvements at Lake Conway, with a 0.375% sales tax to pay off the bond debt, (5) approving a 0.250% sales tax to pay for "the costs of emergency operations center, police and/or fire station design, construction and improvements" and for vehicles and equipment, (6) approving a 0.125% sales tax to pay for improving, constructing, repairing and widening streets and for making drainage improvements, which may include roundabouts, sidewalks and multi-use paths.

Source: Conway Ordinance

Greenland: Voters in this city are being asked to vote on whether to annex land into city limits.

Source: Washington County Election Commission

Ozark: Voters in this city have a referendum on their ballot. City council members approved an ordinance earlier this year creating an entertainment district near the square. A local ballot issue group circulated a petition and collected enough voter signatures to put the ordinance on the ballot for voters citywide to decide. In this instance, a FOR vote would keep the entertainment district in effect and an AGAINST vote would end the entertainment district and void the ordinance.

Source: The Graphic

Sherwood: Voters in this city are being asked to approve three separate bond issues that are also tied to passing a 0.75% sales tax. Revenue from an existing 0.25% sales tax would also be used to pay off the debt. The questions include: (1) issuing $4,100,000 in bonds to pay off debt from bonds issued in 2018 and 2023, (2) issuing $79,800,000 in bonds to pay for "financing all or a portion of the costs of acquisition, design, construction and equipping of certain park system improvements, which may include a multipurpose events center, a sports event complex, athletic fields and facilities, playgrounds, trails, picnic areas and pavilions, land acquisition, open space preservation and other recreational facilities and ancillary improvements such as restrooms, landscaping and parking," and (3) issuing $11,500,000 in bonds to pay for building an animal shelter.

Source: Pulaski County Election Board of Election Commissioners

Texarkana: Voters in this city are being asked to approve three bond issues, which combined would raise the property tax rate in the city by 5 mills. The questions include: (1) issuing $2,375,000 in bonds to pay off debt from a bond issued in 2012, (2) issuing $41,925,000 in bonds to pay for street improvements, which may include "construction, reconstruction, or acquisition of, or improvements to, current streets, roads, trails, bridges, and viaducts, and any necessary intersection improvements, traffic signalizations, speed calming measures, lighting, equipment, land and easement acquisition and related drainage improvements of the City," and (3) issuing $5,350,000 in bonds to pay for drainage improvements, including the "construction, reconstruction, or acquisition of, or improvements to facilities for drainage and flood control and any necessary land and easement acquisition, therefore."

Source: City Council Agenda Packet

School Districts with Special Elections

Arkadelphia School District: Voters in this school district are being asked to approve a property tax rate of 47.65 mills, an increase of 3 mills, along with a $37,170,000 bond issue. The bond issue would pay for building a new high school campus and arena. The property tax rate increase would be used to pay off the bond debt over 32 years.

Source: School district communication

Nettleton Special School District: Voters in this school district are being asked to approve a property tax rate of 43.38 mills, an increase of 4.80 mills, along with a $94,760,000 bond issue. The bond issue would pay for refinancing bond debt issued in 2019 and "erecting and equipping new school facilities and making additions and improvements to existing facilities." The property tax rate increase would be used to pay off the new bond debt over 31 years.

Source: Craighead County Election Website

Pocahontas School District: Voters in this school district are being asked to approve a property tax rate of 35.76 mills, an increase of 2.95 mills, along with a  $16,695,000 bond issue. The bond issue would pay for "erecting and equipping new school facilities and making additions and improvements to existing facilities." The property tax rate increase would be used to pay off the bond debt over 31 years.

Source: Ballot Title

What's New with School District Elections?