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Marion County court refers ordinance to continue 0.5% jail, law-enforcement sales tax to quorum court
Summary
The Marion County court voted to refer an ordinance to continue a 0.5% sales and use tax for jail and law-enforcement purposes to the quorum court for legal review and ballot-language checks; attorneys will review whether Arkansas statute language must be added to the ballot title.
Marion County officials voted on Oct. 12 to refer an ordinance that would continue a 0.5% sales and use tax for jail and law-enforcement purposes to the quorum court for further review and to finalize ballot language.
The referral sends two ordinance drafts to the quorum court and law firm for legal review ahead of the court meeting set for May 13, with county leaders stressing that the proposed measure would not raise the county's overall sales tax rate. "This does not raise any more sales tax rate on them. This just transfers that over," the presiding officer said during the court discussion.
County officials debated how the proceeds would be accounted for, whether the funds should remain in the existing law-enforcement sales tax fund (Fund 1800) or be placed in a separate ledger, and how the revenue would interact with county general funds. A county official flagged a statutory requirement and said: "Pursuant to 7 chapter 7 11 2 0 5 c, the language on the ballot should start with the title should start with a special election, and then the 0.5%. If that statute applies to this, then that phrase needs to be in the valid language." The court agreed to refer the ordinance so attorneys and the quorum court could resolve that technicality.
Officials discussed budget context during the item, citing a recent-year budget figure and an approximate expected annual revenue from the tax. According to remarks recorded at the meeting, the 2025 budget for the law-enforcement fund was stated as about $1,500,000 and the expected revenue from the tax was described as roughly $1,200,000 per year; those figures were presented as part of the court's explanation of the fund shortfall and the reason for continuing the dedicated sales tax.
The motion to refer the ordinance to the quorum court carried by voice vote and was seconded; the court directed county attorneys to review the ballot title and statutory language before the ordinance returns for final consideration. The county's attorneys and a law firm are expected to attend the quorum-court meeting to answer members' questions about wording and legal compliance.
Next steps: the ordinance drafts will be reviewed by counsel and placed before the quorum court on May 13 for further action and to finalize ballot language if the court moves to place the measure before voters.
