At Monday’s press conference introducing a proposed one-cent sales tax in Pine Bluff, Mayor Vivian Flowers answered questions from both the media and citizens in attendance.
Deltaplex News reporter Luke Matheson asked the mayor about the trust issues many Pine Bluff residents have expressed toward local government—particularly regarding taxes. Voters recently rejected the renewal of the Go Forward Pine Bluff tax, citing concerns about how tax dollars were being used.
Flowers responded to the question as follows:
She continued with this.
Flowers explained what the “prenup” from her administration to the City of Pine Bluff would look like.
Item No. 10 in the mayor’s proposal states that, over a 10-year period, the one-cent sales tax could generate between $9.1 million and $14.3 million annually, based on projected growth rates of 2.87% to 4.9%. Flowers was asked about those estimates and responded as follows:
During the meeting, Flowers mentioned a $2 million deficit in the budget. While the city’s declining population has played a role, she said she believes there are additional factors contributing to the shortfall as well.
