Friday, October 7, 2011
Little Rock Government Again with the sales tax for a bridge
Posted by Max Brantley on Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 7:07 AM
- BRIDGE OF DREAMS: A Santiago Calatrava design for a replacement Interstate 30 bridge in Dallas didn't fly because of failure to raise enough money local for the enhanced design. A $12 million contribution from the Hunt family did allow Dallas to build a Calatrava bridge for another Trinity River Crossing.
I can't believe it. Wait. Of course I can believe it. County Judge Buddy Villines is talking — and nobody much seems to be objecting — to increasing the sales tax AGAIN to build a fancy Broadway bridge over the Arkansas River. (He didn't say sales tax in article this morning. He just said taxes. But the sales tax is the only tool local governments have to hammer residents with.)
Oh, sure, it will be one of those "public/private" partnerships. But if experience is any guide, private contributions will be token, at best (see naming rights to Verizon Arena and skyboxes.) The real tab (see sales tax) will be borne by the poorest people at Little Rock when they buy a Big Mac, a pair of jeans or a can of motor oil.
If we're to be gouged, I hope the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce steps up with, oh, say $200,000. It has that amount each year in taxpayer money to throw around. Or maybe Mayor Stodola's economic development slush fund could contribute a few dimes. Or perhaps Mayor Hays could direct a little of the electric rates gouged out of North Little Rock and Sherwood customers away from his projects to this bridge.
Privately funded major public projects just don't happen very often in Little Rock. Walton-backed charter schools are not really an exception — public tax dollars provide most of the money for those. UAMS has had some nice gifts, but without the federal dollars backing patients in the new buildings, they'd have to turn off the lights.
Even Dallas, with an abundance of millionaires, hasn't been able to come up with sufficient money to build three signature Trinity River bridges, though the Hunt family did come up with $12 million for one of them.
Speaking of...
-
Entergy unveils bridge lighting plan
April 22, 2013 -
They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway (Bridge)
April 19, 2013Just in this announcement: Entergy to Announce Major Community Enhancement ProjectHosted by the cities of Little Rock & North Little RockMonday, April 22, at 9:00 a.m. /more/
-
UPDATE: Medicaid, guns, bicycles on the Broadway Bridge
April 12, 2013A light input overnight. A few things stand out. /more/
-
The question: Could Arkansas be a tech magnet?
March 22, 2013Could Arkansas be Silicon Valley? Would tech moguls want to relocate here after reading about the Arkansas legislature? /more/
-
The myth about taxes and economic growth
March 20, 2013As soon as the Republican legislature gets through with its gun/fetuses orgy (though still more gun and fetus legislation remains in the pipeline), it will get to the business of making Arkansas a jobs magnet by slashing taxes on rich people. /more/
-
Top o' the morning — or is it bottom
March 19, 2013A slow start to the day. * THE WAR ON WOMEN: Thanks to a reader for a link to Mother Jones' article on the consequences of Texas' stripping of support from Planned Parenthood's health services for women. /more/
- More »
Comments (13)
Showing 1-13 of 13
More by Max Brantley
-
A fairer tax cut from Democrats
Rep. Warwick Sabin says he's amended his income tax realignment proposal, HB 1926, to eliminate a new 7.5 percent top rate for the highest income taxpayers.
- Mar 22, 2013
-
Are state agencies prepared to monitor Mayflower oil spill?
The Pulitzer Prize-winning Inside Climate News continues to lead reporting on the ExxoMobil pipeline rupture that spewed heavy Canadian crude on a Mayflower subdivision and into a nearby wetlands.
- Apr 26, 2013
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: UA prof writes on the 'junk science' of 20-week abortion bans
Well I know that when I have a question about medical science, the first person…
-
on May 24, 2013
-
Re: Must read: Roy Reed's obituary on Orval Faubus' sister
You people who are criticizing Roy Reed are lightweights in comparison. He is a great…
- on May 24, 2013
-
Re: Details emerge on Arkansas "private option" for Medicaid expansion
Lawd have mercy. What an extremely convoluted, extremely expensive caste system, designed to loot and…
- on May 24, 2013
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Slideshows
-
May 16, 2013
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
