Delaney Reaves, Managing Editor

Samantha McClain, Editor- In-Chief

Voters nixed the plan to restore NWACC’s property tax millage on May 9. The measure failed by a 12%-margin with 44% of voters favoring the 3.0 mill proposal while 56% voted against. 

The NWACC’s millage restoration ballot question would have generated an estimated $1.8 million annually for the college. According to NWACC Resolution for 2023 Millage Election document, one-third of the new millage revenue would be for capital improvement and debt payments while two-thirds would be for the non-capital operating expenditures.

When the college was first founded in 1989, voters approved a 3.0 mill rate. The current rate is 2.6 mills. Through the years, state legislation triggered a reduction in the 3.0 rate.

According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Grant Hodges, the college’s chief of staff, said that Amendment 59 limits growth in property taxes by automatically reducing an institution’s millage when assessed property values rise. According to Hodges’ research, the millage was lowered from 3.0 to 2.7 in 1997 and lowered again to 2.6 by 2005.

Mat Mozzoni, president of the NWACC Foundation Board, reported on May 8 that two mailers were sent to people in the NWACC district (the Rogers and Bentonville school districts) and digital messaging was also shared with the public. Email messages also were sent to college employees. Mozzoni gave an update on the millage campaign at the NWACC Board of Trustees meeting on Monday.

According to an election summary from the Benton County Election Commision office, early voting and absentee ballots indicated that 43.84% favored and 56.16% were opposed. Those percentages were similar to the final, but unofficial results released Tuesday.

Russell J. Anzalone, Benton County Election Commission Chairman, said that in smaller elections it is harder to tell if early voting and absentee ballot results will reflect the full ballot returns. Usually in general and presidential elections early voting and absentee ballots have a higher chance of predicting or reflecting the official results. 

The election results are deemed unofficial until 10 days after the polls close and the sign off certification is completed. After this procedure, the results will then be official, said Sharon Rose of the commission office.

Emails were sent to several NWACC officials late Tuesday seeking comment about the results. The story will be updated as additional information and comments are received.