How Little Rock may spend sales tax revenue

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Now is the time to tell your city director how you want Little Rock to spend its new sales tax revenue.

Tuesday night, at a budget workshop, the City presented a more detailed look at how the 3/8 of a cent tax for capital projects may be spent.

"The number one priority were the public safety projects," says City Manager Bruce Moore.

Thirty police recruits start training this April, but what will happen with the rest of the millions in sales tax revenue Little Rock started collecting January first?

"When and if we make that commitment to fund those projects up front, that means we would have to finance some because as Sara pointed out, we're only expecting 2012 17.7 million dollars," added Moore.

Tuesday night, Moore presented a plan to prioritize certain projects, but some city directors raised concerns.

"Mr. Moore, I'm really upset about these projects. We told everyone we was going to be fair and we was going to be equal, and I see nothing about this equal and fair," said City Director Joan Adcock.

"I may not be familiar with all of the streets and drainage needs, but I just would like to be consulted about some of the projects before they show up," said City Director Doris Wright.

Mayor Mark Stodola stresses this plan is fluid, and although it lists certain street projects like one on Sunnymeade, city directors will ask for your input at public meetings in each ward.

"If there are other suggestions that this board deems to be better than the ones laid out here, they are certainly, these are not hard and fast," said Stodola.

The Board of Directors should decide next week whether to approve the plan Moore presented Tuesday night first, or have ward meetings first.