Bentonville School District Voters Say No

Voters in Bentonville, one of the fastest growing school districts in Arkansas, rejected a proposed millage increase this past week. The district asked voters to approve a 3.99-mill increase in property taxes. Preliminary totals indicate the vote was 2,435 against and 1,699 in favor.

The increase would have made the district’s millage rate 44.09 mills, the seventh highest rate in Arkansas. Owners of a home valued at $200,000 would have been taxed an additional $160 annually if the measure passed.

(For sake of comparison - Springdale’s rate is 38.6, Rogers’ rate is 38.7, and Fayetteville’s is 43.8. However, that may change as all three districts are considering the possibility of passing millage increases to build new schools.)

Bentonville’s millage increase would have permitted a $209 million bond to purchase land, build six schools, make improvements to existing schools, and provide technology upgrades. In addition, some of the money would have gone to operational costs.

The district also planned to restructure existing debt.

In 2002 Bentonville voters approved a $110 million in funding to construct of five schools, athletic facilities and an addition to the high school. Since that vote, growth has been almost unstoppable. The number of students increased by 1,100 in 2005-06 and another 841 this school year.

A failed millage increase this year undoubtedly means the district will have to make some revisions and ask for another increase next year.

For more information:

http://www.nwarktimes.com/adg/News/219315/

http://www.nwarktimes.com/bcdr/News/59440/