Annexation question to go before Gentry voters

GENTRY -- Annexation will be on the November ballot for Gentry residents and for those living in several areas just outside current city limits.

Gentry City Council, on Monday, approved an ordinance on three readings and an emergency clause which will also put the question of annexing certain lands before the voters when they cast their ballots in the general election.

Lands proposed for annexation include land between Flint Creek and Gentry's corporate city limits on the southeast side of the city (including a small strip on the east side of Arkansas Highway 59 in that area), land in the southwest part of the city on the south side of Marion Lee Road which is completely encompassed by the city, and land along and to the east of a proposed new road between SWEPCO Road and Arkansas Highway 12 between Jerald Shea Road and WPA Road. Also included is a narrow strip of land running north and south in the section south of SWEPCO Road and west of Pioneer Lane which county maps do not show as inside the city though it is between city land on the east and the west.

The move is to clean up city boundaries and to take in land completely encompassed by the city, as well as to include land which is being purchased for the construction of a new road.

Also to be on the ballot in November will be a measure to increase the city's sales and use tax by 7/8 of one percent to make it an even 2 percent tax. The state levies 6.5 percent and the county, 1 percent. If approved by the voters in November, the total sales tax rate in Gentry would be 9.5 percent, with 2 cents on every dollar going to the city sales tax.

The council approved the third readings of ordinances to levy the tax and to call for a special election, held in conjunction with the general election in November, for voter approval of the tax increase.

Siloam Springs, Gravette, Highfill, Bentonville and Rogers all collect a 2 percent city sales and use tax, and some cities collect more. Decatur collects 1 percent.

General News on 07/09/2014