Little Rock City Hall Brian Chilson

Early voting on renewing Little Rock’s capital millage starts Tuesday, Aug. 2. If voters approve the package, it would generate $161.8 million in bond proceeds. A yes vote wouldn’t raise property taxes; the rate would remain the same for the next 20 years. Six items will be listed separately on the ballot, each with an allotment of money for infrastructure improvements.

The separate ballot questions are: 

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*$40.5 million for streets

*$40.5 million for drainage

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*$19.5 million for fire apparatus

*$24.6 million for parks and recreation and $12.3 million for the zoo

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*$8.5 million for a new district court building

*$15.8 million for the Port Authority of Little Rock

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The Little Rock Board of Directors called for a special election on Aug. 9 because the 3 mills dedicated to capital improvements in Little Rock would otherwise roll off by the end of 2022. Early voting lasts from Aug. 2-5 and Monday Aug 8. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Regular voting will run from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9.

The board worked for several weeks to approve the allocations for the money the bond proceeds would generate, but the parameters remain somewhat loose. Improvement categories are named on the ballot, but they are typically kept vague. Specifically named projects must be completed, City Manager Bruce Moore said at an April board meeting. However, the money must be spent on improvements and tangible things — it can’t be put toward ongoing expenses such as personnel or employee raises, Moore said.

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If any of the six items are not approved, that money will not be included in the millage, Spencer Watson, a city spokesman, said. It will not get redistributed to other departments. The bonds would likely be paid off sooner, but the millage rate would remain the same.

Once the allocations were finalized, city officials from each department presented their plans for the money.

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For each department, 85% of its allocation must be spent within the first three years. Because of the time limitations with bond money, as well as employee vacancies, supply chain issues and a long issuing process, the city will do two bond issuances.

Community outreach efforts throughout Little Rock will help determine what specific improvements within each department will be completed, primarily for projects concerning streets and drainage. These have not yet been scheduled. In addition, residents can submit requests for improvements online that would be considered within the budget.

The combined budget of $81 million for streets and drainage would address citywide projects, and also provide about $10 million for each ward, Jon Honeywell, director of the Public Works Department, said at a community presentation in June.

The fire apparatus budget would update the aging fleet of the Little Rock Fire Department. The $19.5 million would be used to purchase five new aerial ladder trucks and 14 water trucks.

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With $24.6 million allocated for Parks and Recreation, Director Leland Couch presented several projects that could be addressed including updates to neighborhood and regional parks. The establishment of a new downtown park on land vacated by I-30 construction would be expected, he said.

An additional $12.3 million is budgeted for the Little Rock Zoo. Director Susan Altrui said this money would get put toward enclosure expansions and an enhanced guest experience.

A new district court building is planned to be built with $8.5 million. The existing building does not fit the needs of the three judges, and it also has several structural issues, Traffic Judge Vic Fleming said in June.

The Port of Little Rock would receive $15.8 million for the purchasing of land, expansion of the industrial park and rights-of-ways, Watson said. More specific information on how the bond money would be spent for the port were not released.