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« November 2006 | Main | January 2007 »
Thursday, December 28, 2006 - 14:05:40
Arkadelphia Wet?
In a year-end news roundup, Arkadelphia's Siftings Herald makes mention of an effort in Clark County to gather the 5000+ signatures necessary to put the wet/dry question to the voters. They failed but can you imagine? Henderson and Ouchiata Baptist would flip their wigs if Clark County were to become wet. Wow!Analysis Paralysis
The Corp of Engineers figures that more study is needed in order to determine the true cost of minimum flow. (For those of you that do not know, minimum flow would store more water behind the dam on our area lakes so that that water could be used to generate a minimum flow level for the tail waters, which is good for fish habitats.) The corp will have to move some lakeside parks and compensate the power companies for lost generation.Jonesboro to open magnet schools
I love the magnet school concept. My nephews have attended them here in Little Rock for years. Each one was able to build upon their interests and talents, which is great. But I have always thought of them in relation to urban renewal. My perception, albeit uninformed, has been that they were "magnets" that attract white students back into impoverished areas of the district.Jonesboro doesn't really have an impoverished area in the traditional sense. So it came as a surprise to me when I read that they were developing magnet schools. What a concept. On this scale, there are other communities in Arkansas that could also develop similar programs. Conway, those NWA towns, Texarkana, Hot Springs, Paragould/Green County Tech, just to name a few.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - 15:30:29
Federal Education Dollars are stacked against us
This report from The Education Trust outlines how "Federal Title I funds widen rather than narrow the education funding gaps that separate wealthy states from poor states." and how " funding choices at the school district level provide enhanced funding to schools serving higher concentrations of affluent students and white students at the expense of schools that serve low-income students and students of color." The Solution? The report makes the following suggestions: At the Federal Level: The state expenditure factor in the Title I formula should be eliminated, and Title I funding should compensate for differences in state capacity to fund education.
At the State Level: States need to assess relative challenges across districts and ensure that funding is commensurate with the challenges, and set equity standards for all school districts.
At the
Wednesday, December 20, 2006 - 15:00:15
Pike County says yes to Hospital Sales Tax
Tis the season for sales taxes. Here is a story in the Nashville News regarding the passage of a three-eighth's cent sales tax for the Pike County Hospital. The sales tax will not expand the facility. It will simply go toward the general operation of the cash-strapped facility. This will put Pike County's sales tax rate somewhere over 2%.This would be as good a place as any to vent my frustration with Arkansas' tax laws. In the last few hours, I've run across three sales tax proposals. The one listed above--which passed--and two others that were dashed. Why, might you ask, does every local government's answer to every problem vexing their city or county involve a sales tax? Well, that's because the sales tax is the only real option that local governments have for generating revenue.
I'm afraid that many areas of the state may have stretched their sales tax rates to the outer-limits of sanity. For example, there are sixteen counties with sales tax rates over 2%. The State sales and use tax rate is 6%. Local sales taxes vary in range from 0% to 3.5%.
What you may not realize is that Arkansas' highest sales tax rates are in our most poverty stricken areas. Dumas and Dewitt weigh in with the highest rates. When you factor their 3.5% rates with their county's 2% rate and the state's 6% rate, they tax their citizens at 11.5%. Other counties with 2% tax rates include, Phillips, Mississippi, St. Francis, Sevier (at 2.375%), Chicot, Cross. Let's contrast these counties with our state's more affluent counties. Pulaski County's sales tax rate is 1%. Washington County's rate is 1.25%. Benton County weighs in at 1%. It is our poorest counties that tax themselves at the highest rates. This is because they have the most pressing problems to address. But as they reach the outer-limit of sales tax sanity, they will have no way to address the needs of their citizens. The property in these areas does not generate enough revenue to make a significant difference. That's because these areas are depressed. The problem is cyclical.
In short, our state is in danger of maxing out its sales tax rate. I cannot imagine any city taxing itself beyond 10% much less 11.5%. The poorest areas of our state have already gone too many times to the sales tax well. They may find that their only well has gone dry.
Ever Wonder Where the Money for those "Committed to Education" License Plates Goes?
Here's one place. 30 Piggott 7th Graders were given Computers for their test performance and attendance record. The bribes were funded by the "Committed to Education" license plate revenues.Another Sales Tax Proposal Bites the Dust
Drew County Quorum Court has decided not to seek a 25-year, three-quarter cent sales tax for Monticello's hospital. The tax was to fund an expansion to the hospital. Hospital board members hope to transform the Monticello facility into a regional hospital.Voting Problems Under Review in Lawrence Cty
Pine Bluff has a Charter School
Sales tax override (UPDATE)
The What-For's and the Why-Not's
Clark County Judge vetos Jail Tax Ordinance
The Highway Lobby goes to Arkadelphia
Flippin discusses Alcohol
Quitman schools to seek a millage increase
Leadership in Arkadelphia/Clark County
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