School bond and tax elections in Arkansas
| Bond elections |
|---|
| 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states |
| Property tax elections |
| 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 2014 • 2013 • 2012 • 2011 2010 • 2009 • 2008 All years and states |
| See also |
| State comparisons How voting works Approval rates |
School bond and tax elections in Arkansas are held under two circumstances:
- To exceed the debt limit protected under the Arkansas Constitution
- A statewide referendum for a increase or decrease of Arkansas 25 mill debt limit.
Laws affecting school finance
Arkansas debt limit
Under Arkansas law, there is a debt limit protected by the Arkansas Constitution. No school district can exceed the twenty-five mill debt limit, which is considered to be uniform under the Constitution of Arkansas for all school districts.[1]
Statewide uniform debt limit election
A statewide referendum must be called if the twenty-five mill uniform debt limit needs to be changed. This occurs if the debt limit of 25 mills is to be increased or decreased.[2]
Conduct of election, rules, etc.
Authority conducting elections
All special school elections must be held by the Board of Directors of the respective school district[3]. The County Board of Election Commissioners have authority for all other aspects of school election except determining how many polling places are needed.[4][5]
Election dates
Under Arkansas law, all elections are generally held during the annual school election held on the third Tuesday in September only for questions held via a referendum.[6]
Needed majority
A simple majority is needed to pass an election involving a school district exceeding the twenty-five mill debt limit or passing an election to reduce or increase the uniform debt limit.[7]
Special elections
Special elections can be held if the Board of Directors of a school district approve a special election before the annual school election and have received approval from the Arkansas Commissioner of Education.[8]
Wording of measures
Under Arkansas law, all ballot measures must be printed as:
The title and name of the ballot measure must be stated in plan language followed by these responses:
“FOR ISSUE NO_____.
“AGAINST ISSUE NO _____.”[9]
All ballot measures must be numbered consecutively when placed on the ballot.[10]
Required notice of bond election
For elections involving the 25 mill statewide debt limit, the Board of Directors of a school district must publish a 60 day public notice required by the Arkansas Constitution. The notice must disclose the budgeted expenditures and a plan to retire the debt as accompanied in the public notice.[11]
All other elections are required to have a public notice of twenty days before the election with the notice published one time a week in the newspaper. All notice advertisements must start twenty days before the election.[12]
See also
- Voting on school bond and tax measures
- Where to find information about local school bond and tax elections
- School bond election
- Approval rates of local school bond and tax elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Constitution of 1874"(Referenced Section Article 14, Section 3, Subsection(b)(1) and Article 14, Section 3, Subsection 4(c)-(1))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Constitution of 1874"(Referenced Section Article 14, Section 4, First Paragraph)
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code" (dead link)(Referenced Statute 6-14-102(b))]
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code"(Referenced Statute 7-5-101(a)(2),(d)(1)]
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code" (dead link)(Referenced Statute 6-14-101]
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature Arkansas Code (dead link)(Referenced Statute, 6-14-102(a)-(1)-(2))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Constitution of 1874"(Referenced Section, Article 14, Section 3, Subsection 4)
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature Arkansas Code (dead link)(Referenced Statute, 6-14-102(b)(1)-(3))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Election Code"(Referenced Statute 7-9-117(b))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Election Code"(Referenced Statute 7-9-117(c)(3)-(b))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Constitution of 1874"(Referenced Section Article, 4, Section 3, Subsection (c)(1))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Education Code" (dead link)(Referenced Statute 6-14-109(a)-(c))
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