The group opposing the Little Rock $500 million sales tax increase gathered a small crowd yesterday to hear Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen outline reasons to oppose the tax, particularly the portion that wraps some police and fire expenditures around a $38 million economic development slush fund. The slush fund will be spent in a manner devised by the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce (often in secret) and much will be overseen by an appointed group dominated by Chamber interests. There’s no reason to think they’ll be any more open and accountable than the chamber is now in spending a $200,000 annual taxpayer welfare payment.

Here’s Griffen’s bullet-point presentation on reasons to oppose the tax, including the research park authority’s ability to condemn midtown houses for an office building.

Advertisement

For background, Griffen includes the Chamber of Commerce template that the city is following as directed and also the first financial report filed by the campaign for the tax. The report details the business domination of the support group, particularly real estate interests. They’ve been rewarded by Mayor Mark Stodola’s fervent criticism of development impact fees in recent days.

The financial report also fails to disclose specifics of how the campaign money is being spent. I’ve filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission over this. If the state ethics law allows funneling all issue campaign money through a third-party conduit to remove identifying traces of expenditures, our ethics law needs changing — and quickly.

Advertisement

Be a part of something bigger

As a reader of the Arkansas Times, you know we’re dedicated to bringing you tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, we've been fighting the good fight in Little Rock and beyond – with your support, we can do even more. By becoming a subscriber or donating as little as $1 to our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage and continue to bring important stories to light. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, it's clear that our readers value our great journalism. Join us in the fight for truth.

Previous article AEDC director ‘gravely ill’ Next article Robbery in church