NORTH LITTLE ROCK Supporters of a ballot measure giving the state authority to issue $300 million in bonds for water projects launched a campaign for the proposal Tuesday.
The measure faces resistance from some lawmakers and others who question its impact.
A group billing itself as Arkansans for Clean Water filed paperwork with the state Ethics Commission to campaign for the proposed bond issue, which will go before voters in November. The proposal, referred to voters by the Legislature, would help the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission continue to provide grants and loans to local governments for water and sewer projects.
"A lot of times we get up in the morning, turn on the faucet or shower, and we take that for granted ... There are a lot of areas of Arkansas that for whatever reason have not been able to obtain clean water systems or sewer systems or waste-disposal systems," Sen. Shane Broadway said at a news conference at North Little Rock's wastewater facility.
The proposal would cap financing for irrigation projects at $100 million and would limit to $60 million the total amount to be issued during any two-year budget cycle, unless the Legislature authorized more.
Voters approved the current $300 million bond program for water projects in 1998. The bonds are used to provide grants and low interest loans to counties and cities for water projects. The commission still has about $130 million in unobligated bonds from that issue.
Randy Young, executive director of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, said the bonds can also be used to match federal grant money for water and sewer projects. If the commission loses that bonding authority, it may have to ask the state for additional money to match those federal dollars, he said.
Broadway, D-Bryant, is serving as a spokesman for the campaign committee, which is being chaired by Rep. Chris Thyer, D-Jonesboro. Other lawmakers on the committee include House Speaker Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, and Sen. Jim Argue, D-Little Rock.
Gov. Mike Beebe also supports the bond proposal, his office said Tuesday.
No campaign has formed to oppose the measure, but it faces resistance from some lawmakers and groups. Don Zimmerman, executive director of the Arkansas Municipal League, said the group has not taken a stand on the bond proposal but has sent a letter to the commission asking whether the bond program would encourage urbanization of unincorporated areas.
The proposal also faces questions over how much it would fund the Grand Prairie Irrigation Project. Young told lawmakers last year that the cost of that project had grown from its original estimate of $318 million to between $396 million and $437 million.
Rep. Robbie Wills, of Conway, who will serve as House speaker next year, said he voted last year against referring the bonds to voters partly because of concerns about how much money would go toward the project. Wills was among 26 House members who voted against referring the bond question to voters. It passed the 35-member Senate unanimously last year.
"I'd like to frankly have more information on how the money will be used before I decide how to vote," said Wills.
The Grand Prairie project was halted by a federal judge after concerns were raised about its impact on the habitat of the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker. U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson has not issued a ruling in the case.
Young said the commission has spent about $12.5 million from its current bond program for the project and had projected that $73.8 million was needed total from the current bond authority. That figure may be as much as $100 million now, he said.
Young said he doesn't expect any money from the proposed bond package would be needed for the irrigation project, and said the $100 million cap on irrigation projects was included in the legislation to address lawmakers' concerns.
Rep. David Johnson, D-Little Rock, also voted against the proposal and said he's opposed to the measure because it's unclear where the money would go.
"I'm not sufficiently comfortable with the environmental impact of the measure and I believe the question should be more specific about the method of distribution of the funds," Johnson said.
