$55M bond issue on ballot for Siloam Springs
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Siloam Springs voters will decide in November whether they want a 0.625% sales tax to pay for $55 million in wastewater improvements.
Why it matters: The city needs to upgrade and repair its wastewater treatment plant and replace some pipes with larger ones. Some of the work is needed to meet updated environmental requirements, Siloam Springs finance director Christina Petriches and public works director Josh Napier told Axios.
How it works: The city has a 0.625% sales tax paying for a different bond that's set to be paid off this year. Approving this issue would replace that tax with a new one in the same amount, meaning shoppers see no change in how much they're paying, Petriches said.
State of play: Despite the city's growth, the Siloam Springs wastewater treatment plant isn't facing capacity problems, Petriches said. Some of the need for bigger pipes can be attributed to growth, though.
- The city's population grew from 17,400 people in 2020 to an estimated 21,300 in 2025, according to the Census — a more than 22% increase.
Zoom in: The plant hasn't been upgraded since 2009, and the bond issue is needed to replace aging equipment, Napier said. The city is also in the process of obtaining a new permit from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality that will increase its water treatment requirements.
Threat level: "We have to do this," Petriches said of the wastewater work. If the bond issue fails, the city will have to look to another funding source.
- The city would potentially have to consider raising wastewater bills, Napier said.
What's next: Early voting starts Oct. 19. Election Day is Nov. 3. Check your voter registration and polling places.