LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Voters in Little Rock have made their voices heard on the penny sales tax increase, which was championed by Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and the city board.
While votes are counted in Pulaski County, officials will have to finalize the total. This is where the vote totals stand as of 7:30 a.m., on Nov. 6. You can view the latest results by clicking here.
Residents of the city saw the penny sales tax broken up into two questions.
The first question asked voters to approve a permanent 3/8-cent tax that would be used for "general operational purposes."
Current vote totals show that 40% have voted for it while 60% voted against it, effectively denying the 3/8-cent.
The second question asked for approval of a 5/8-cent tax that would be used for "general capital purposes" and expire after 10 years. Current vote totals show that 37% have voted for it while 63% voted against it.
"While we are disappointed in today’s sales tax results, we respect the decision of Little Rock voters," Mayor Scott said. "We will continue to improve quality of life and place initiatives and keep moving forward to take Little Rock to higher heights."
The mayor and city officials said the sales tax proposal would have been used to fund around $650 million over a 10-year period. That funding would go to improving city parks, infrastructure, and improvements to public safety.
For a full explanation of where the funds would be allocated if the taxes are approved, click here.
We will update this article with more info and voting totals once they have been made available. For more election coverage in Arkansas, click here.