Proponents say Issue #1 would "Move Arkansas Forward" | News

You could see a few more orange barrels on Arkansas roads.

That’s if voters approve Constitution Amendment Issue #1 when they head to the polls on November 6.

Issue #1 would use a temporary half-cent sales tax increase to finance a $1.3 billion bond issue for the construction of four-lane highways in the state.

Craig Douglass is the campaign coordinator for Issue #1. On Thursday he was in Jonesboro drumming up support for the measure.

He told Region 8 News the purpose of Issue #1 is to finish construction of four-lane highways that will connect Northeast Arkansas to the rest of the state.

“For instance, it will finish out the four-lane highway connector on Highway 18 between Jonesboro and Blytheville that will connect to I-55,” Douglass said.  “It will finish the four-lane highway on 412 from Walnut Ridge to Paragould.”

In addition to completing state road projects, Douglass says the measure will also provide more than $20 million to Craighead County and its incorporated cities for county roadwork and city street improvements.

To see how much the money the tax increase is expected to generate for other counties and cities in the state, click here.

Douglass estimates Issue #1 will “create and support over 40,000 jobs throughout the state.”

He stressed it will not raise taxes on groceries, medicine or gasoline. 

The temporary half-cent sales tax will last just 10 years.  When the bonds are repaid, the tax will be abolished by the state Constitution.