2012 Arkansas Issue 1

Amendment 91

Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 91
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 597,215 58.21% No 428,745 41.79% Valid votes 1,025,960 100.00% Invalid or blank votes 0 0.00% Total votes 1,025,960 100.00%
For:      70%–80%      60%–70%      50%–60% Against:      50%–60%

Arkansas Constitutional Amendment 91 (known as Issue 1 prior to passage) amended the Constitution of Arkansas to raised sales tax in Arkansas from 6.0% to 6.5% for 10 years to pay for improvements to the Arkansas Highway System. It was referred by the Arkansas General Assembly to voters (legislative referral), and approved by voters during the November 6, 2012 election.

History

Arkansas operated the state highway system debt-free from 1972 until 1999, when voters authorized $575 million in GARVEE bonds for Interstate highway rehabilitation (later known as the Interstate Rehabilitation Program). Arkansas voters reauthorized the IRP in 2011 at the same amount to continue rehabilitating Interstate highway pavements.^[1]

Issue 1 sought to allow issuance of $1.3 billion of four-lane highway construction and improvement bonds, with a sales tax increase used as the revenue stream to pay off the bonds in ten years. The sales tax increase would end once the bonds were paid off. The annual Arkansas Poll indicated support in October, with 53 percent in favor and 42 percent opposed.^[2]

Support

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) and Arkansas State Highway Commission strongly supported Issue 1.

• Arkansas House of Representatives and State Highway Commission member Robert S. Moore Jr.
• Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce^[3]
• Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas Mark Darr^[3]
• Former Governor of Arkansas Mike Beebe^[4]
• Frank Scott Jr.^[5]
• Move Arkansas Forward^[4] (major contributors included Walmart's Political Action Committee, Jim Walton, Tyson Foods, and SWEPCO)^[6]
• Northwest Arkansas Council^[4][5]
• U.S. Senator John Boozman^[3]

Opposition

• Americans for Prosperity, Arkansas chapter ^[3]
• Washington County Tea Party^[4]

Results

Arkansas Proposed Issue 1 (2012)^[7]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	597,215	58.2
No	428,745	41.8
Total votes	1025960	100.00

The tax went into effect on July 1, 2013.^[8] Stephens Inc. issued the bonds for the state.

AHTD Director Scott Bennett later testified to the United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit regarding Issue 1's success.^[9]

See also

• Holford bonds

External links

• Issue 1 Ballot Issue Fact Sheet University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research and Extension Public Policy Center

References

1. "Report from Roundtable Discussion on GARVEE Bonds". Washington DC: Federal Highway Administration Center for Innovative Finance Support. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
2. Moritz, Rob (October 25, 2012). "Poll: Arkansas Voters Prefer Romney; State Ballot Measures Close". Fort Smith Times Record. Fort Smith, AR. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
3. Goodman, Josh (November 26, 2012). "After Tax Hike, Arkansas Plans Highway Building Boom". Stateline.org. Washington, DC. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
4. Wood, Ron (October 28, 2012). "Tax Touted For Projects - Beebe Says Voters Need to Take Lead". The Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
5. Moritz, Rob (October 18, 2013). "Beebe Names Former Staffer To Arkansas Highway Commission". Southwest Times Record. Fort Smith, AR. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
6. Thompson, Doug (October 27, 2013). "Region's Biggest Political Donors Gave To GOP - Road Issue Drew Major Support, Contribution Records Show". Benton County Daily Record. p. 1. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
7. Arkansas Secretary of State (2018). "Initiatives and Amendments, 1938-2018" (PDF). Little Rock. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
8. "Tax Break, Tax Hikes Go Into Effect Monday In Arkansas". Southwest Times Record. Fort Smith, AR. June 30, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.
9. Moritz, Rob (September 16, 2013). "Arkansas Highway Director To Brief U.S. House Panel On Road Funds". Southwest Times Record. Fort Smith. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via NewsBank.