Vilonia Mayor Preston Scroggin Paid for Defeat of Tax Reallocation

Vilonia Mayor Democrat Preston Scroggin paid for most of the campaign that successfully defeated the proposed reallocation of the Faulkner County Roads-Criminal Justice sales tax on November 3 last fall.

A large donation from the County’s sole asphalt provider was a major financial factor as well.

The former Faulkner County Judge, through three entities, contributed 82% of the $81,600 that “Keep Faulkner County Moving Forward” raised to defeat the November 3 ballot measure, according to mandatory financial filings with the Arkansas Ethics Commission.

Asphalt provider Rogers Group in Conway donated $10,000.

The tax proposal would have rearranged the current 50-50 split to designate 35% of the taxes for the Roads Department and 60% for the Sheriff’s Department while sending 2.5% each to the 911 System and Animal Control, alleviating an ongoing financial strain on the Sheriff’s Department, the 911 System, and Animal Control.

The measure — designed to not raise taxes while funding all four areas adequately — was defeated 51.51% to 48.49% with supporters spending around $6,900. The opponents’ campaign raised $81,500 and spent almost $78,000.

Promised Review

As promised, FCR has reviewed all the financial reports on the Arkansas Ethics Commission website.

Reports show that members of “Keep Faulkner County Moving Forward” are Eddie Glover, Cliff Hoofman & David Heffington.

Officers include:
Preston Scroggin, Vilonia – Chairman
James Fireston / Vilonia – Secretary
Karla Cook / Conway – Treasurer
Allison Clark / Little Rock – “Officer”

We found three entities donated about $67,000 to the opposition:

♦  $1,200 from RWS Land Company (was also the first and only donation in September, 2020)
♦  $2,000 from Scroggin Farms
♦  $63,750 from CFWC Mineral Company

Scroggin runs Scroggin Farms and is president/vice president/secretary/treasurer and controller for CFWC Mineral Company.

RWS Land Company and CFWC Mineral Company share the same Vilonia street address as Scroggin’s home.

Other Donations

Other donations to defeat last fall’s proposal include:
$250 — Lonnie Williams / Conway
$100 — Terry Milam / Greenbrier
$500 — Atlas Asphalt / Batesville
$500 — Wallace Culvert / Greenbrier
$300 — Ray Hambuchen / Conway
$500 — Clark Machinery / Little Rock
$2,500 — Flywheel Energy / Oklahoma City (largest contributor behind Scroggin and Rogers Group)
$750 in kind (billboards) — Edie & Mike Turner / Vilonia

Unitemized donations totaled $4,850.

Expenses

According to the 10/27/20 Pre-election Report, opponents spent $68,798 in October 2020, including:

♦  $46,018 advertising
♦  $6,600 radio ads
♦  $1,350 push cards
♦  $2,500 website
♦  $5,129 yard signs
♦  $7,200 TV production / ad buys

Opponents amended the Pre-election Report on 12/15/20 to remove these expenses from the October, 2020 timeframe.

These expenses showed up again on the Final Report filed 12/8/20. The expenses now appear in the 10/28/20 – 12/3/20 timeframe, along with $1,528 for social media.

The $7,200 “TV production / ad buys” from October became $7,500 for McClarty Consulting fee.

In addition to this odd calendar/timing problem about when the $68,798 was actually spent, ending account balances do not match beginning account balances from report to report.

Remaining Funds Returned

The opponents spent $77,826 of the $81,600 total that was donated. Dissolution paperwork shows the $3,673 remaining was returned to the contributors.