Sebastian County voters to decide continuation of sales tax

Sebastian County voters will decide a tax question that will be on the ballots on Tuesday, Aug. 8.

The question asks voters if they are for or against a continuation of the county sales and use tax that funds county government functions.

The county-level sales tax rate in Sebastian County is 1%. The tax is dedicated to public safety, the public library, parks capital maintenance, senior citizen programs, downtown development, projects, public transit and privilege license replacement.

A vote in favor would not increase the existing 1% county tax but would continue the tax in Sebastian County.

Sales in Fort Smith are also subject to the 2% City of Fort Smith tax and 6.5% state tax for a 9.5% total on sales.

Early voting starts Tuesday, Aug. 1 to Monday, Aug. 7. Early voting is Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sebastian County Courthouse room G8 at 35 S. 6th. Early voters can also go to the Greenwood Fairgrounds at 530 E. Knoxville. Mail-in ballots will be accepted until 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7.

For Fort Smith voters, there has been one polling place change announced for election day. The polling location at Ramsey Middle School tornado shelter has been moved to the Fairview Elementary School tornado shelter, the Sebastian County Election Board reported.

Election board officials report that the move was necessary because of the recent fire at Ramsey MiddleSchool.

The principal asked to move the location for the Aug. 8 vote because work to clean up the damage was underway, the election board reported.

Fairview Elementary School is located at 2400 S Dallas Street.

Election centers that will not be open Aug. 8 include, The American Legion, Cliff Terrace Assembly of God, Nelson-Hall Beckman Center, Will Town-Washburn Fire Department, Grace Lutheran Church, Cornerstone Free Will Baptist.

Polling centers that will be open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 include the following locations:

Baker Senior Center, 3900 Grand Ave.

Ben Geren Park tornado shelter, 7200 Zero Street.

Bonanza Assembly of God, 701 McConnell, Bonanza.

Creekmore Park Recreation Building, 3301 S. M Street.

First Southern Baptist Central City, 12 W. Central Ave.

Eastside Baptist Church, 2710 Massard Road.

Forefront Church, 10300 Jenny Lind Ave.

Grand Avenue Baptist Church, 3900 Grand Ave.

Greenwood Fairgrounds, 530 E. Knoxville Street, Greenwood.

Hackett Fire Department, 205 State Highway 10 SW, Hackett.

Hartford Fire Center, 201 S. Broadway.

Huntington City Hall, 223 E. Broadway, Huntington.

Lavaca First Baptist Church, 100 W. Main, Lavaca.

Mansfield City Hall, 200 N. Sebascott Street, Mansfield.

Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Building, 1901 N. Greenwood.

Midland City Hall, 204 N. 3rd. Midland.

Orr Elementary School, 3609 Phoenix Ave.

Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1301 Frank Street, Barling.

Rye Hill Baptist, 11501 U.S. 71 South.

Southside Senior Center, 2700 Cavanaugh Road.

St. Bartholomew Episcopal, 2701 Old Greenwood Road.

St. Luke Lutheran Church, 5401 Free Ferry Road.

St. John Episcopal Church, 215 N. 6th Street.

Windsor Library, 4701 Windsor Drive.

Witcherville Community Building, 18 Buckner Way, Huntington.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: The county tax rate election is Tuesday, Aug. 8 in Sebastian County.