Northwest Arkansas lawmakers list benefits of legislative session

A proposed constitutional amendment on the 2016 ballot originated in Northwest Arkansas and would benefit this region the most if voters approve it, local lawmakers said.

That amendment is just one of a range of benefits and potential benefits Northwest Arkansas will see out of the just-concluded session, regional lawmakers said.

Sen. Jon Woods and Rep. Lance Eads, both R-Springdale, were lead sponsors of Senate Joint Resolution 16. The proposed constitutional amendment allows cities to issue bonds for economic development projects and allows cities with populations of 500 or more, incorporated towns, school districts and counties to form compacts for economic development.

It would allow a city, for example, to issue bonds backed by city sales tax revenue to build a road or other infrastructure to attract a new business. It requires voter approval in the 2016 general election to take effect.

Requests for the proposal came directly from supporters such as the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, Woods said. Sen. Uvalde Lindsey, D-Fayetteville, said Northwest Arkansas is in a better position to benefit from the proposal than most areas.

"We have the resources to take advantage of this, more than other areas that need it more," Lindsey said. Northwest Arkansas has the tax base to support those projects, he said. Other cities in greater need of economic growth do not.

As a major population center, Northwest Arkansas will also receive a disproportionate amount of benefit from tax cuts passed in the session, lawmakers said.

"We all know we'll be getting money in our pockets from a $100 million state income tax cut, and we'll certainly benefit from that," said Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville.

A direct benefit Northwest Arkansas will see from the 2015 legislative session is construction of a State Police troop headquarters. Woods and Rep. Jana Della Rosa, R-Rogers, co-sponsored a bill that finances a new building for Troop L of the State Police in Lowell. The current headquarters in Springdale is too small and outdated.

Allowing a plumber or electrician to have three apprentices at a time instead of one during the training and certification process should ease a chronic shortage of those skilled trades in fast-growing Northwest Arkansas, Dotson said.

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Northwest Arkansas lawmakers list benefits of legislative session