Eureka voters to decide fate of tax allocation Tuesday

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Next Tuesday, Eureka Springs voters will decide a tax re-allocation issue when they go to the polls to cast ballots.

Early voting is already underway in the special election at both county courthouses.

City voters are being asked to cast ballots "For" or "Against" the reallocation of an existing one percent local sales and use tax.

The current allocation is: 50 percent for water and sewer improvements; 40 percent for street construction, maintenance and drainage; and 10 percent for purchase, repair and maintenance of fire and police equipment.

City leaders are asking voters to approve a reallocation which would assign 65 percent to the General Fund operating account, and 35 percent to be used exclusively for street and/or sidewalk construction, maintenance, repair, operating, street lights and drainage.

According to Yvonne Kline, finance director for the City of Eureka Springs, the reallocation is being sought to change the allocation formula set out in 1981 in the original tax ordinance, Ordinance 1120.

"Because Ordinance 1120 was approved by the voters, any change must likewise be approved by voters," she explained. "The reallocation will allow a portion of the 1981 one percent sales tax to be used for general operating funds, a practice that has been in place for several years."

A polling site has been established for Tuesday's election at the Best Western Eureka Inn where voting will take place from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Absentee ballots will be processed at the Eastern District Courthouse beginning at 6:30 p.m. that day, and all other ballots will be counted there beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Persons having registered on or before July 14, 2008 will be eligible to vote in the special election, unless otherwise disqualified.