Sales, use tax levy for jail moving to ballot

Published 1:43 pm Thursday, July 16, 2026

By GEORGE FOWLER PhD

As enacted in ordinance 26-10 and 26-11, a one-percent Sales and Use Tax to support jail operations, was approved and ordered to be included on the November 3 ballot.

In continuation of their efforts to date, the JPs finalized their decision to put the question to Newton County voters whether they want to increase funding for the county jail via a sales and use tax.

Specifically, Ordinance 26-10 is titled, “AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY OF A ONE PERCENT (1%) SALES AND USE TAX WITHIN NEWTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS FOR JAIL PURPOSES; AND PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO.”

Ordinance 26-11 states, “The question of levying the Sales and Use Tax shall be placed on the ballot for the election in substantially the following form:

1% SALES AND USE TAX FOR JAIL PURPOSES

Adoption of a 1% local sales and use tax within Newton County, the net collections of which remaining after deduction of the administrative charges of the State of Arkansas and required rebates, will be distributed only to the County and used for jail purposes.

The JPs approved these ordinances, pending clarification of 26-10 on the inclusion of real estate in the tax as well as 26-11 with the calling of a special election, despite the general election already occurring on Nov. 3.

Additionally at their regular scheduled meeting on Monday, July 6, they approved Ordinance 26-12, which appropriated $1,500 received from the Auditor of State into the Compton Community Grant account.

All ordinances were read three times to enact them immediately.

Resolution 26-01, which authorizes County Judge Warren Campbell to make an application for assistance from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) on behalf of the Nail-Swain Water Association “in order to make certain improvements to the system.” If assistance is granted, it will be in the form of a bond purchase agreement.

The final order of business was the acceptance of an Affidavit of Destruction of District Court Records for the years 2019 – 2021. These records were primarily financial, (e.g., bank reconciliations and statements, receipts, distribution reports, fines and fee reports, and time sheets, among others).

During the public comment period, four residents from the Erbie area asked the Judge and Quorum Court for help with a bridge that overruns with water during heavy rains. They say the issue started when gravel work was done on that road, and now the gravel continually clogs the culvert under the bridge.

Campbell responded with the efforts already undertaken to address the issue, but that the problem is a lack of funding. Citing that there are many others who are also on the other side of water that becomes generally impassable during and after rain, he said that he and the road crew would immediately address these issues if funding were available.

Campbell indicated that funding is generally not available for roads or bridges, but that he would investigate further.

The next regular scheduled meeting of the Newton County Quorum Court will be Monday, Aug 3 at 7 p.m. in the Newton County courthouse.