By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

The City of Arkadelphia will continue collecting a 1-cent sales and use tax for general government operations for an additional 10 years.

The tax issue passed 813-511, with 61% of Arkadelphia residents favoring the initiative. The tax carried a slightly lower margin in the 2024 election than it did when it secured 66% in the original 2019 vote. A total of 1,324 votes were cast in the 2024 election.

“The City Board of Directors and staff is very pleased with tonight’s vote of confidence,” City Manager Gary Brinkley said in a prepared statement. “We have worked so hard to be transparent and deliver services not thought possible before the 1% rate increase in 2020 [when the tax took effect].”

Brinkley applauded the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and the Keep Moving Arkadelphia Forward Committee for their work in sending the message to voters that the tax was essential for the city to continue operating with a positive cash flow.

Mayor Scott Byrd had this to say about the victory: “We are so proud of the work that has been accomplished the last four years, and even more excited about seeing the good things we have planned now being able to be funded by this positive vote. It starts tomorrow!”

There was no organized opposition to the tax measure.