LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — On Tuesday night, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. will once again introduce a sales tax increase to the board of directors.
This is the second time he will try to get this tax passed, and the mayor is in good spirits ahead of the meeting as he hopes voters will see how much this money is needed.
"I'm excited about Little Rock's future and the ability to continue to grow forward," said Mayor Scott.
He's spent the beginning of the summer meeting with the people in every ward to get their feedback on the tax increase.
"We really believe that Little Rock is one decision away from really being catapulted to what we call the new south," he said.
Mayor Scott explained that the new South is a combination of growth and economic prosperity. He's hoping to continue to capitalize on the momentum of the population growth in Little Rock by investing in what he calls the four P's: public safety, public infrastructure, parks and recreation, and the port.
"It's about focusing on the quality of life in place of our city. If you want to reinvest in our city and invest in our city's growth you should vote yes," Mayor Scott described.
While overall feedback on the sales tax has been positive, there are still some directors who want to see more changes to the draft.
Vice Mayor Webb said her constituents want more funding for housing and infrastructure. The mayor said he is prepared to discuss and see if more changes need to be made.
"We always want to yield to our legislative body because we want to make certain this is a 'we' opportunity and we are all on board and all on one accord," said Mayor Scott.
The mayor hopes the directors will pass the proposal before the end of July.
If it does, voters will have the chance to say yes or no to it on the upcoming November ballot.