Committee approves amendment to avoid odd-year elections for unchanged school millages

The Senate Education Committee on Monday voted to advance an amendment that would keep unchanged school millage levies off odd‑numbered‑year ballots, a change proponents said will prevent taxpayer‑funded elections that have no legal effect.

Senator Justin Boyd, sponsor of the amendment, told the committee that when a millage is unchanged, “having a vote on it doesn't change anything” and described such contests as “a taxpayer funded opinion poll.” He said the amendment applies only to odd‑numbered years, when local elections can otherwise produce ballots containing a single, unopposed millage question.

The amendment clarifies that the change affects only odd‑numbered years and does not remove the constitutional requirement that a millage appear on ballots when a district changes its rate. Lindsey French of the Association of Arkansas Counties, who joined Boyd to explain the amendment, noted the language also ensures that any local appointee named under the measure must be “a qualified elector of the school district.” French said, “I think we come back to you with a cleaner bill and a better bill that we can all support.”

Committee members said the amendment narrows the bill’s scope to avoid forcing districts to open polling places for elections that would have no effect on tax rates. No public witnesses spoke against the amendment during the committee hearing.

Senator Boyd asked for a favorable report; the committee moved and seconded the motion, members voted in favor and the committee passed the amendment.

The amendment will next move through the legislative process for further consideration by the full Senate.