BENTONVILLE -- Cave Springs voters approved a 1.25% city sales tax in a special election Tuesday.

Final, but unofficial, vote totals for the sales tax were 230 votes for (61%) and 149 votes against (39%), according to Benton County's Election Commission.

Voters also OK'd bond issues for sewer service with 248 votes for (65%) to 131 votes against (35%); water service with 249 votes for (66%) to 130 votes against (34%) and fire service improvements with 225 votes for (60%) to 153 votes against (40%).

A bond for improvements for the Cave Springs Community Building failed with 210 votes against (56%) to 168 votes for (44%), according to election results.

The city is rapidly outgrowing its sewer and water capacity, Mayor Randall Noblett has said. That's the main reason for the bond proposals.

The city is expected to surpass 5,000 people in next year's U.S. census. The number will put Cave Springs in the classification of a first-class city under Arkansas law. The classification requires a level of city services, including fire protection, the city will have to meet, Noblett said.

The tax was projected to raise more than $380,000 a year before new businesses opened recently in Cave Springs, Noblett said. The new businesses mean the city will be in a better position to pay off the bonds more quickly.

Each measure required voter approval to pass, but none of the bond issues would have been possible unless the sales tax passed, according to the ballot measure. The sales tax money will pay the bond issues.

NW News on 11/13/2019