Proposed legislation to implement a new one-cent sales and use tax in Pine Bluff and to set the date for an election on the tax was tabled by the Council’s Ways and Means Committee Thursday night following a meeting that lasted nearly two hours.
Mayor Vivian Flowers proposed the new tax, which would be collected for 10 years beginning in 2026 and ending in 2036 if voters approved it during a special election which would be held Nov. 18.
Flowers said the city currently has enough money to take care of basic services but not enough to take care of extras and “everyone wants extras.”
As an example, the Mayor talked about street overlays and filing potholes and said while the council voted to use surplus funds to do some of that, there is not enough to do more.
After voters approved a tax increase, commonly known as the Go Forward Pine Bluff tax in 2018, two efforts to extend that tax both failed.
Council Member LaTisha Brunson, who is not a member of the committee but attended the meeting said she thought the timing of asking for the tax turned some council members against it.
Flowers said if voters approved the tax, money would be used in eight different categories, including transportation, public works, economic development and public safety.
In terms of transportation, the Mayor cited the Port of Pine Bluff as an area which could bring additional jobs to the city with additional work done there.
Council Member Bruce Lockett also attended the meeting and said this after it was over.
Although the items were tabled in committee, they could still be considered when the full council meets on Sept. 2.
