By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Notices of a 10 to 15 percent real property value increase are in the mail, but according to St. Francis County Assessor Craig Jones, taxpayers will be able to see some relief from the rising taxes that accompany the rising property values.
According to a press release from Jones and Tommy Fisher of Equity Valuations, the company which handled the reappraisal, property values in St. Francis County will increase as a whole by 10 to 15 percent.
Jones said property owners inside Forrest City will see an average, 5 percent increase, while in the county that figure should hover closer to 10 percent. According to Fisher, those numbers still pale in comparison to the 30 percent increase seen in 1999.
"This will not be near as bad as the 1999 reappraisal. In 1999, we sent out over 10,000 notices, and we had a lot of land values increase. After the current reappraisal, we sent out 8,000 notices, and some property will decrease in value. Agricultural, use value, property will not see an increase, and most city lot values will stay the same," Fisher said.
A pair of tax relief packages were also not available in 1999, but Amendment 79, or the $300 homeowners tax credit, as well as the tax freeze for individuals over 65 years of age or 100 percent disabled, should give property owners a break.
"This is the first time taxpayers in St. Francis County will receive the full benefits of Amendment 79. This will give homeowners a $300 tax credit indefinitely, and it also puts a five percent tax increase cap, per year, on all primary residences," Jones said.
"On other property, rental or commercial, the values can only increase 10 percent per year. If you were over 65, as of Jan. 1 of this year, or 100 percent disabled and have brought your proof of age or disability to the assessor's office, your values will freeze at their current levels and will never increase again. So things aren't as bad as they could have been. People have a couple of options that will help them out," he added.
For more information, or answers to questions regarding the reappraisal, call 630-1800. Taxpayers need to call by August, and the new values will not affect taxes that are paid by Oct. 10. Taxpayers also can call the Board of Equalization, but Fisher said the first call should come to them.
"If you have any questions call us, and we will be glad to answer your question and explain your values. After talking with us, if you are still displeased with their new values, there is a number on the notice that can be called for the Board of Equalization," Fisher said.
For more information on Amendment 79, call 261-1710 or 1-800-203-0211. Notices will only go to parcels that received a value increase. If you are over 65 or disabled and have provided proof of age or disability the notice can be discarded, according to Jones.
The L'Anguille River is part of about 1,270 miles of Arkansas streams and 17,062 acres of lakes which are endangered, according to state environmental officials.
The L'Anguille River is among 40 waterways statewide with impaired uses. According to Patricia Perry with the St. Francis County Conservation District, the major problem with the L'Anguille stems from point and non-point pollution from area farm land, road construction and factory runoff. Perry said the L'Anguille is currently being monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency for its TMDL or total maximum daily load.
Area farmers are currently getting assistance in fighting erosion from a pair of grants that the Conservation District has received to help keep sediment out of the streams that feed the river.
"The districts in Cross, St. Francis, Poinsett and Lee counties are all working with a grant for erosion control drainage systems, which are basically pipes with strainers on them to keep some of the sediment out of the streams. We have a 40 percent watershed grant which shares the costs with the farmers, which is a pretty good incentive for getting the system," Perry said.
Perry also said that the farmers have been taking advantage of a grass filter strip program which also has a 40 percent cost share.
According to Perry, the most successful program by far has been the no-till drill program which allows farmers the use of a no-till drill for planting.
"The no-till drill program has really been working well. It lets the farmers get their planting in without have to till the ground at all, which really stops the erosion. The program has worked so well that we're in the process of applying for a grant that will give us a second drill for the area," said Perry.
The no-till drill program is available only to farmers in the St. Francis County Conservation District.
This year's list includes an additional 121.9 miles of waterways compared to last time monitoring took place in 1998. Endangered lakes and streams include: Arkansas River, Bayou Bartholomew, Bayou DeView, Bayou Meto, Big Bayou, Big Creek, Boeuf River, Champagnolle, Clear Creek, Corcheat Bayou, Cutoff Creek, Deep Bayou, Dorcheat Bayou, Days Creek, Elcc Tributary, Flat Creek, Fourche LaFave, Hicks Creek, Holly Creek, Holman Creek, L'Anguille River, Macon Bayou, Moro Creek, Oak Bayou, Ouachita River, Poteau River, Rolling Fork, Saline River, Salt Creek, Stone Dam Creek, Strawberry River, Town Branch, West Fork, Whig Creek, White River.
Endangered lakes include: Big Johnson, Columbia, Dupree, Felsenthall and Grays.
All but two of the streams -- Bayou Meto and Fourche LaFave -- are listed as high priority.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Crowley's Ridge Development Council is conducting its second annual "Supply Our Schools" program for area students.
The effort will help students in seven area counties. "The seven counties that we are helping are St. Francis, Jackson, Craighead, Greene, Crittenden, Poinsett and Woodruff. We are also teaming up with Cross County, which already has a plan in place." said Carrie Cooper, Area Coordinator for CRDC.
"The program provides supplies to students in kindergarten through seniors in high school who need help in getting the necessary tools for a good education. We started this program just last year in Craighead County hoping to help 75 children in need, and we ended up helping over 900," Cooper said, adding that the organization hopes to provide even more assistance this year.
"We didn't realize the need for this program until it started last year. This year our goal is to double the donations from last year, and if everybody donates, we can reach that goal. The money will be pooled to help all the counties involved. The distribution will be based on the amount of need in each county," Cooper said.
Donations of backpacks and kindermats are also appreciated, according to Cooper, because they are more expensive items, and "We have a high demand on them. We try to provide a mat for each kindergartner and a backpack for each student in the sixth through eighth grades who applies for the program."
The applications for the SOS program are now being accepted at CRDC Family Service Centers in all seven counties.
"Donations may be made at local churches and businesses in drop boxes or at the CRDC office at 247 North Division, in Forrest City. The drive will continue through the summer.
For more information on eligibility requirements for the program, contact Carrie Cooper or DeAnna Kirk at 870-630-0193.
A regional used car dealership is relocating its headquarters to Forrest City.
Jackson's Used Cars is in the process of clearing land on Deaderick Road for the construction of its new headquarters and a new Jackson's Used Cars Supercenter.
Kevin Thomas, owner of Jackson's, said the new dealership will serve not only as Jackson's eighth store, but also as the new headquarters for its chain.
"After being headquartered in Hughes since 1955, we're going to be moving everything to Forrest City. We'll still have all of our locations, but this one will just serve as our headquarters," Thomas said.
According to Thomas, the dealership will take up most of the area in the vacant parking lot on the north side of Deaderick Road, as well as the area currently being cleared along that street.
"Our front row of cars is going to run down Deaderick and turn there at the service road that is in front of the parking lot. We have placed dealerships in the Forrest City area, but we've never come into Forrest City. We have quite a few Forrest City customers, and are hoping that we can continue to satisfy our customers when we move into our new location," Thomas said.
"We're looking forward to coming to Forrest City, and we're encouraging everyone to come in and see us at the end of the year as we start a new chapter in our history," he added.
Jackson's Used Cars currently has locations in Hughes, Wynne, Colt, West Memphis, Lehi and two in Memphis.