Tax Reallocation Opponents Grossly Outspent Supporters
Opponents of last fall’s proposed tax reallocation grossly outspent supporters — 11 times over, in fact, even though they defeated the measure by only a slight margin at the ballot box on November 3.
Supporters of the initiative to rearrange the Roads-Criminal Justice sales tax spent $6,851 while Vilonia’s Mayor Preston Scroggin and other opponents spent $77,826 to defeat the tax proposal.
Supporters believe that designating 35% for the Roads Department and 60% for the Sheriff’s Department while sending 2.5% each to the 911 System and Animal Control would alleviate our County’s ongoing financial stress 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 a 71% voter turnout.
As promised, FCR has reviewed all the financial reports on the Arkansas Ethics Commission website.
Members of “Faulkner County Citizens FOR Reallocation” are David Jones, Andy Shock, and Rose Roland. Shock is a former Faulkner County Sheriff, and Roland is a Faulkner County JP (Dist. 5).
Officers include:
Robert Gregory * – Chair
Jack Sotallaro * – Vice Chair
Rod Beasley – Treasurer
$8,050 Donated
For October 1 – October 23, supporters reported $8,050 in donations and $6,851 in expenses. The two largest donations were from vendors associated with jail operations: Correct Solutions of Ruston, LA donated $5,000 and Keefe Supply of St. Louis, Mo donated $1,000.
Other Donations
Other donations include:
$100 — J. George / Conway
$500 — Conway Commercial Warehousing / Little Rock
$350 — R Roland / Conway
$500 — J Houston / Mayflower
$600 — Informed Citizens of Faulkner County / Conway
$308 in kind (signs) — Robert Gregory / Conway
$92 in kind (flyers) — Rod Beasley / Conway
Houston is a former JP from District 4.
Expenses
The group spent
♦ $5,850 for mailers
♦ $1000 for ads / signs / copies
♦ $28 office supplies
Remaining Funds Returned
The group spent $6,851 of the $8,050 total that was donated. Dissolution paperwork shows the $1,599 remaining was lawfully donated, split between the Paws & Whiskers Society and the Friends of the Faulkner County Animal Shelter.
* Gregory and Sotallaro are two principals in Faulkner County Reports.
