Texarkana, Ark., pays a .25 percent sales tax for Miller County Jail operations and county officials wanting money to house city prisoners may lead to tax repeal efforts, according to the mayor.
Miller County's request for the city to pay for housing its prisoners at the county jail prompted the Nov. 1 written by Texarkana, Ark., Ruth Penny-Bell in which she states the .25 percent countywide sales tax "generates approximately $1.2 million annually for jail operations, covers around 40 percent of the total operating budget of the jail, and allows the County to show a profit on prisoner housing," she states.
" to continue paying the .25 percent sales tax AND a daily sum for prisoner care is asking Texarkana citizens, who pay the majority of Miller County taxes, to pay for this twice and is unrealistic. I have consulted with our Board of Directors, and barring an agreement that is acceptable to both of us, we will take the matter of discontinuing the .25 percent sales tax to the voters," Penney-Bell states in the letter.
The letter was read at a Monday meeting of Miller County's Budget and Finance Committee by Chairman Ernest Pender. No action was taken by the committee after he read the letter.
In the letter, Penney-Bell agrees with the Miller County Quorum Court's suggestion to discuss solutions to fund the county jail and further continue the "amicable relationship" the two governments have.
However, she was "disappointed" and she and city staff were "blindsided" to learn the county wants to charge the city for housing prisoners, the letter states.
Under the procedures now, the Miller County Jail houses the prisoners, including people who were arrested by the TAPD.
Bell referenced the hard work Texarkana, Ark., and Miller County officials have put in to improve relations in the last few years.
"We have made this one of our priorities because we know that we can accomplish more if the two entities are able to join forces and work together for improvements and economic development in our area," she states in the letter.
" I would hope that we can reach a mutual understanding, one that will continue the amicable relationship we have achieved in recent years so that our area of the state can reach new heights for each of us. As you and the rest of the Quorum Court know, our city has struggled financially for several years and is anticipating the reality of additional cuts for 2019. The added expense of paying for prisoners housing would be impossible for us to meet without cutting additional city services to our citizens.
"I respectfully request that you and the remainder of the Quorum Court reconsider your position on this matters. Our Board of Directors and I have the privilege and responsibility of representing the citizens of Texarkana, Arkansas, looking out for their interests is always foremost on our agendas," Penney-Bell wrote in the letter.