LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Ahead of the pivotal Little Rock Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss Mayor Frank Scott Jr.’s one-cent sales tax proposal, the mayor made the case again Tuesday afternoon.
Scott gave the Rotary Club of Little Rock a “mini-State of the City address.” He discussed improvements in public safety, affordable housing, sustainability, and more.
However, the end of the speech was devoted to pushing the sales tax.
“If we don't have something in the City of Little Rock, it's because we didn't pay for it,” Scott said.
Scott's sales tax proposal would last for 10 years and is estimated to generate up to $650 million for the city of Little Rock.
The mayor’s sales tax proposal would last ten years and generate $650 million for Little Rock.
Scott said that the money would totally transform the city and that the funds raised would focus on the four Ps—public safety, public infrastructure, parks and recreation, and port and economy.
"The best way to do this is to focus on the sales tax,” Scott said. “Which mirrors the overall growth that we've seen in Oklahoma City. We can take a page out of their playbook to continue to move and grow our city forward together."
He's referring to Oklahoma City’s MAPS program, a similar quality of life sales tax the city passed in the mid-1990s.
They continue similar programs even today.
Meanwhile, in Little Rock, voters shot down the original plan three years ago, but Scott isn’t giving up.
The Little Rock Board of Directors met at 4:00 p.m. to discuss the tax where they voted yes on the proposed sales tax and it will now be put before voters in November.
"We also know it's the Little Rock Board of Directors' job as legislators to make some changes if need be, and that's fine," Scott said. "Ultimately, it's about how do we invest in ourselves, getting a favorable passage today so we can start the campaign work for November 5th."
We will update this story with more information as the city board meeting unfolds.