By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A report from the St. Francis County Collector's office shows that more than $800,000 more has been collected in property taxes this year than last year.
However, not all that money is going into the county coffers. The money also goes to schools and city governments, and it's too soon to tell how much of an increase the figures will mean to the county.
Chief Deputy Collector Emily Holley reported that 2001 taxes, paid in 2002, totaled $5,956,085.15, with an additional $1,227,193.23 in reimbursement from the state for homestead credit. That brought the total taxes collected in 2002 to $7,183,278.38.
Last year, the 2000 taxes collected in 2001 were $4,265,181.86, with $1,093,638.21 in homestead reimbursement, for a total of $5,265,181.86.
The difference is $824,458.31.
"I hope it makes things easier," said County Treasurer Ann Harbin. "You realize that this is a total of all taxes collected and the county doesn't get all of that."
County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, whose job it is to figure out the prorated numbers for tax distribution, said it was too soon to tell how the county would benefit.
"I've gotten as far as adding up the figures on what was collected and it matches her (Holley's)," said Smith. "But the schools and cities have to get their shares, the college, everything else.
"The county generally gets around 11 to 12 percent," she continued. "It's going to be an increase, but it's hard to say."
The quorum court's budget committee recently began work on next year's budget, facing a possible deficit of $1 million.
While any increase will be welcome, the county may be taking a hit from another direction. It has been predicted that if Amendment 3 -- which would remove sales tax from food and over the county medicine -- passes, it could further hurt county finances.
County Judge Carl Cisco earlier this week that if the amendment passes, the county might have to impose a road tax, and possibly cut back on some services.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
On Nov. 5, residents in Forrest City Ward 2 will have to decide between Position 2 Alderman Glenn B. Ford and his challenger, Louise Fields.
Ford, the incumbent, lives at 626 N. Grant. He and his wife Debra have two sons, John and F. Murray Ford. He has a masters degree from the University of Memphis in counseling. He is currently physical plant director at East Arkansas Community College.
Fields, an employee of Sanyo Manufacturing for 34 years, lives at 622 Mann St. She is a graduate of East Arkansas Community College where she received an Associate of Arts degree in business administration. She serves as financial secretary/treasurer for the Local 1106 chapter of IUE/CWA union, and is the mother of four children, Charlotte Fields-Wright, Ricky Brandon, Felicia Fields and Eric Brandon.
1. What do you believe are the biggest issues facing city governments today?
Ford: "I feel that in most towns in Arkansas there are problems with employment and the lack of jobs. We have to do more to try to bring new industry into Forrest City and do more to make employers want to come to our town."
Fields: "The biggest issues facing our city would have to be employment. Over the past few years, Forrest City has seen the partial closing of Airtherm and the closing of Yale. We have to find a way to bring new employers into this city.
We also need to work on housing throughout the city and the city needs more programs for our children."
2. If elected, what improvements would you work toward in city government?
Fields: "First I would have to work to build a good relationship with my constituents, because they are the people who put me in office. I would then work with my fellow council members to make Forrest City a better Forrest City in whatever ways possible."
Ford: "As a body of government, including the council, the mayor and the city attorney, we have to work together to try to seek out companies and find out what it is that makes them select the cities they choose. We need to know what they are looking for and we also need to work real close with the Chamber of Commerce and the AIDC in Little Rock to bring companies in.
We lost Yale last year and as a result the city government also needs to meet with industry that is still here so that we can find their needs and be more attentive to what we can do to help make them successful."
3. Are there any city services you would like to see improved and if so, what are they?
Ford: "There's always room for improvement in anything. Right now I feel that it's crucial that the council pursues a sub-station on the bypass. I would also like to see us increase the number of patrol officers that we have because the more officers we have on patrol, the more we can work to decrease crime in our city."
Fields: "As far as I can see, everything is working well, but there's also always a need to improve. Once elected I will have more insight into what needs to be done to improve our city services.
4. What improvements would you like to see the city make in regards to the area adjoining the Highway 1 bypass?
Fields: "That area has a great amount of potential. The city needs to do everything that we can to insure that potential is reached. I think that we need to extend Deaderick Road and we also need to continue in the efforts to put a fire station out there."
Ford: "We have to make that area more accessible to business so that we can attract not only industry to the industrial park, but also small businesses should be able to prosper along the bypass. We need to extend Deaderick Road to the bypass and we also need to make sure that we get the fire sub-station out there. That will be a positive for Forrest City two-fold in that it will give us a better fire rating, plus it could be a positive in attracting new business in that area."
5. With the city in the process of purchasing additional land at the Forrest City Municipal Sports Complex, what additions would you like to see on the property?
Ford: "I don't think that the council should rush into action on this new property. We're in the process of buying the property and I think that a committee needs to put together a plan of action before we just jump in and do things that might not be beneficial in the long run."
Fields: "We currently have a very nice complex but the addition of the new property gives us an opportunity to have an outstanding complex for our entire community. The current walking track is nice, but once the cold weather and the wet weather sets in it's difficult to use. We need an indoor facility that everyone could utilize. The city is currently building a senior citizens center on the property, but what about our youth. There are some area churches that have facilities but the community as a whole doesn't have access to them. I feel that in order for the complex to truly be used a multi-purpose facility is needed."
6. Why do you believe you are the best candidate for the job?
Fields: " First, I am a Christian, and I feel that is most important. I also believe that I'm the best candidate because I am a people person. I tend to get along with people from all walks of life and I feel that's what is needed in city government. We need someone who can work with anyone and a person that listens to the concerns of the people. I will do that and then make sure that those concerns are met."
Ford: "I feel that my experience in working with city government gives me an edge. I've been involved with city government for 20 some odd years and have been on the city council for 10 of those years. From my experience I know the ins and outs of not only our government but life in general. I have a vast knowledge due to that experience.
I also think that it's important that you have a council member that's willing to stand on their own ideas. You should be able to listen to the people and be able to stand for the people."
The City of Palestine will host a fall festival and barbecue cookoff on Saturday.
One of the features of the festival is a contest to give it a name.
Festivities will begin at 8 a.m. with the opening of booths, patriotic singing and the beginning of the barbecue cookoff. There will be a pet parade at 9 a.m. At 10, there will be an archery contest and cake walk. Bingo and gospel singing will begin at 11, and there will be an arm wrestling contest at noon.
A greased pig contest for the kids will be held at 2 p.m., with a duck calling contest at 3 p.m. Square dancers will perform at 4 p.m., and at 5, Gussie Michalis will perform as "Minnie Pearl."
The evening will wrap up with a womanless beauty contest, an
amateur hour and a street dance.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Times-Herald has received a citation from the national Associated Press Managing Editors for its contributions to the Associated Press news report.
The award was announced this week during the APME national meeting being held in Baltimore
Other Arkansas newspapers receiving recognition for news contributions included the Evening Times in West Memphis, the Eldorado News-Times and the Daily Citizen in Searcy.
The selections were announced at the annual APME conference. There are 1,550 newspaper members of the AP.