Courts vote spurs restart on discussion

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County's Finance Committee began to regroup and restart discussion on a new courts building after voters soundly rejected a proposal last month.

Tuesday night's meeting was the first for the committee since the proposal was voted down March 12.

There were 6,055 votes against (62 percent) to 3,714 votes for (38 percent) a temporary sales tax plan to pay for a downtown building, according to the certified results from the Election Commission. Only 6 percent of the county's 161,802 registered voters showed up at the polls.

"We heard from the voters loud and clear," Chairman Tom Allen said. "Residents don't want a tax increase for this issue."

The failed one-eighth percent sales tax increase would have paid for a $30 million courthouse. The tax would have lasted 54 months, according to county information. The courthouse would have been built on Northeast Second Street.

The county proposed spending another $5 million to update the downtown courthouse, including the courtroom on the third floor. The courthouse was built in 1928.

County Judge Barry Moehring told the committee there were two data points from the election to consider. "There was low voter turnout, and they voted against it," he said. "Everything else is speculation."

Justice of the Peace Susan Anglin said she was glad there was talk about moving ahead with some sort of financing plan. Nothing concrete was decided Tuesday night.

"We have spent too much money and too much time to go back," she said.

Justice of the Peace Pat Adams said he wanted to see appraisals of all the county buildings in Bentonville, including the old Post Office. Appraisals have been done on those properties, Moehring said.

Previous financing plans considered by the Quorum Court included a dedicated sales tax from 1 percent to one-eighth percent, two plans involving long-term financing with a mixture of general fund revenue, two road tax millage plans with long-term financing and a hybrid of multiple funding mechanisms.

Circuit court is held in various buildings in the city, including the annex building across the street from the courthouse and a building on Main Street. Juvenile court is held at the Juvenile Justice Center on Melissa Drive just off Southwest I Street.

Case filings have increased in the county from 9,238 in 2014 to 11,785 in 2017, according to county information.

Justice of the Peace Joel Edwards said the county needs to be practical in whatever plan is considered.

"What can we afford?" he asked. "That's something I hope we consider in this process."

Allen said he hopes a consensus on a plan can be reached soon. "We can't drag this out for another year," he said.

Also on Tuesday night, the Finance Committee heard plans for a software system upgrade for the Sheriff's Office and Central Communications. The system being used has been in place since 2005, according to information provided by the county. The cost for the upgrade would be a little over $1 million, according to documents. The item was moved to next week's Committee of the Whole for more discussion.