Special election set to fund Bella Vista projects

💰 How it works: The city has a 1% sales tax approved by voters that is set to stay in effect until certain debt is paid off, which will likely be next year, Bella Vista spokesperson Cassi Lapp told Axios. If the bond issue passes, a new 1% sales tax will replace the existing 1% sales tax and continue until these bond issues are paid, instead of the tax dropping off.

• If the first issue on the ballot to refinance the $6,175,000 in 2020 sales and use tax bonds fails, then all the issues fail regardless of whether voters approve them, Lapp said.
• The ballot also asks voters to approve or turn down refinancing $5.12 million in outstanding capital improvement revenue bonds.

Other issues on the ballot include:

🏗️ $8 million for renovations and improvements to city offices and to Fire Station 1. The city has already started this project, and the next phases include renovating three existing fire bays and adding two more, Lapp said.

🛣️ $6.1 million for street improvements, including two years of street resurfacing and purchasing equipment, Lapp said.

🚒 $6 million for the fire department, including building a new fire station in the south central part of the city, where Bella Vista has seen population growth, Lapp said. The money will also go toward replacing an old fire truck and upgrading two ambulances.

🚔 $3 million for the police department, including new police cars. The money will also help the city build its own three radio towers. The city's radios are mounted on water towers owned by the Property Owners Association, and the city has had to get approval to access its radios when they've malfunctioned, Lapp said.

Check your voter registration, find your polling place and see the ballot