By the Numbers: The Highway Tax
By: J.R. Davis
Updated: November 6, 2012
One of the biggest items on the ballot for the natural state this election...Issue number one... Also known as the highway tax. So what happens if it passes?
The highway tax would temporarily raise the Arkansas Sales Tax by half a cent for 10 years. And the money would fund state highway construction, creating what supporters say is much needed infrastructure.
All across the state and especially right here in Northwest Arkansas, after 10 years the tax would sunset or just go away.
But in a wave mindset of no new taxes, voters may end up shutting this down. And while opponents would be happy with that, those in favor of issue one say not passing issue one could hurt the state.
Lucky for you, you get to hear both sides.
"If we don't have highways that meet business needs, we're not going to be able to attract new investment for the region," said Mike Malone with the NWA Council.
But Patsy Wooton, the director of Conservative Arkansas, disagrees,"It needs be let's say add taxes on tires or car parts. In other words those who use the roads pay for them."
Now Governor Beebe told KNWA last week that the state has about 23 billion dollars worth of road projects and renovations but the state only has 3-4 billion for those.
The highway tax would temporarily raise the Arkansas Sales Tax by half a cent for 10 years. And the money would fund state highway construction, creating what supporters say is much needed infrastructure.
All across the state and especially right here in Northwest Arkansas, after 10 years the tax would sunset or just go away.
But in a wave mindset of no new taxes, voters may end up shutting this down. And while opponents would be happy with that, those in favor of issue one say not passing issue one could hurt the state.
Lucky for you, you get to hear both sides.
"If we don't have highways that meet business needs, we're not going to be able to attract new investment for the region," said Mike Malone with the NWA Council.
But Patsy Wooton, the director of Conservative Arkansas, disagrees,"It needs be let's say add taxes on tires or car parts. In other words those who use the roads pay for them."
Now Governor Beebe told KNWA last week that the state has about 23 billion dollars worth of road projects and renovations but the state only has 3-4 billion for those.
