Arkadelphia voters to decide on millage increase in special November election

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

Voters will decide this November whether to support a millage increase aimed at building a new Arkadelphia High School.

During a special-called meeting Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, the Arkadelphia Board of Education gave its unanimous nod to a resolution calling a special election for Nov. 18. 

Voters are to consider an increase of 3 mills for a span of 30 years. The election is open to eligible voters living within the boundaries of the Arkadelphia Public School District. The purpose of the election is to consider a tax rate sufficient to support the board’s proposed budget, including the proposed issuance of bonds in the principal amount of $37,170,000.

The increase, if voters approve it, would bring the total rate to 47.65 mills on the dollar of the assessed value of taxable property located within the school district. In recent weeks and months the board had been eyeing millage increase options ranging up to 7 mils, and as late as Aug. 18 met to finalize its financial options ahead of the election resolution, settling with the 3-mil increase. The district would also pull from its Building Fund to help erect the new campus.

District officials remain adamant that the building of a new AHS facility is not a concept born of their own desire, but rather an act of necessity based on the state’s warm, safe and dry requirements. Superintendent Nikki Thomas said the 50-year-old AHS sits at No. 26 on the state’s list of more than 1,000 Arkansas school campuses needing replacement.