School tax rate vote up for election May 9

FORT SMITH SOUTHWEST TIMES RECORD
·2 min read

There will be no proposed increase in the tax rate for residents in the Fort Smith Public School district when they go to the polls to decide the annual tax rate.

Fort Smith Public Schools' millage rate will be up for approval for voters who head to the polls Tuesday, May 9. Early voting starts Tuesday May 2.

The district's proposed millage rate this year totals 42.058, the same rate currently collected including the state uniform rate of 25.0 mills for school operation. The additional 17.058 is for paying off existing bond debt.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 in property tax value that goes for schools. Millage rates are approved annually in Arkansas.

In Sebastian County, early voting starts 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 2 to Friday, May 5, and on Monday, May 8 at the Sebastian County Courthouse in Fort Smith, 35 S 6 Street, Room G8.

Crawford County

Voters in Crawford County will also decide their annual millage rates but only through early and absentee voting.

Millage rates will be up for approval in Van Buren and Mulberry counties. The millage rate in Mulberry would remain the same at 39.9 mills. The millage rate would remain the same in Van Buren at 42.6 mills.

Early voting starts 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, 1820 Chestnut in Van Buren and at the Mulberry Senior Center, 406 Mulberry Highway West in Mulberry.

Le Flore County, Oklahoma

Voters in the Wister School district in Le Flore County, Oklahoma will consider a proposal to build a new elementary school Tuesday, May 9. The building would include two safe rooms.

The new building is needed for second to fourth grades because another building had flooding issues, said Superintendent Rachel Pugh. The cost of the building is $3.4 million.

Voters in Oklahoma can cast ballots early on Thursday, May 4 and Friday, May 5 at the Le Flore County Election Board, 103 N. Church Street in Poteau.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Local school district millage rates are up for voter approval May 9.