Farm Bureau Press - October 10, 2012

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ArFB supports Issue #1 Arkansas Farm Bureau is supporting Issue #1 on the Nov. 6 ballot. If the ballot issue passes, it will create a temporary ½ cent sales tax (10 years only) to finance $1.3 billion in bonds for highway improvements and maintenance. The tax also will generate $700 million for county and city road work. ArFB has a long history of sup-

Ellen Dalton shows off one of the many multicolored gourds and pumpkins she and her husband Darrell raise at Pumpkin Hollow farm near Piggott, the largest commercial gourd operation in the Mid-South. Pumpkin Hollow will attract several thousand visitors for family-oriented activities in October. porting highway programs. The bonds will be used to expand road projects throughout the state. A map of road projects and an estimate of individual county and city turnback funds are available at www.Move ArkansasForward.com. Some facts about Issue #1: • Issue #1 will not raise taxes on groceries, medicine or gasoline. • The new state turnback revenue will be available for use in every Arkansas city and county: $350 milNewton Co. FB President Stan Taylor (left) honored the Newton county Farm Family of the Year — (l to r) Zachre, Stacy, April and Jesse Root — with a FB plaque and legislative citation on Sept. 24 in Jasper. Stacy and April raise turkeys and beef cattle near Kingston.

lion for counties and $350 million for cities. • Cities and counties will have discretionary control over funds they receive from Issue #1, but the sales tax funds can only be used for roads and highways. • Issue #1 will create a permanent $20 million a year State Aid Street Fund for cities and towns to apply for grants for local street and bridge projects. • Issue #1 will support 40,000 statewide jobs and improve Arkansas’ economy while making roads safer for all, including school buses, emergency vehicles and drivers sharing the highways with big trucks. • ArFB policy supports this method of highway funding. We recommend the first alternative for paying for a highway program be a users’ tax, and the second alternative be bonds in conjunction with a sales tax, toll roads (where feasible) or other measures. We request adequate funds for rural road improvements.

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A Publication of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation

October 12, 2012 • Vol. 15, No. 19


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Farm Bureau Press - October 10, 2012 by Arkansas Farm Bureau - Issuu