Citizens seek answers at county tax meeting

Pastor Ricky Everett welcomed guests to Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville where a public meeting was held on Monday evening  to discuss the upcoming vote to extend the one-half cent economic development county tax.

Pastor Everett welcomed everyone.

“We are here to inform, listen and enlighten,” Pastor Everett said. “We want to show respect for all opinions in the room.”

He pointed out hosting the meeting does not constitute an endorsement for or against the tax.

Mike Lester addressed the group recognizing members of the Mississippi County Quorum Court, Blytheville Mayor James Sanders, Luxora Mayor Brown, area pastors, members of the economic development team, ANC representatives and all concerned citizens attending.

Lester asked if anyone had abstained from voting because they did not know enough about the issue. He said they want everyone to get all of the information to vote.

The one-half cent sales tax for economic development originally passed in Mississippi County in 2003 and was extended by a vote of the people in 2010. The tax is scheduled to sunset in 2023 and county officials are again asking the public to extend the tax. Election date will be Aug. 10, with voting from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Early voting will be Aug. 3-9, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dennis Prude, a concerned citizen, voiced his opinion on the tax.

“Some support it and some do not,” Prude said. “I think the tax needs to be broader for more than just industry.”

He said he thought it should be turned around and use the tax to keep Mississippi County in the right direction. Prude said African Americans are asking what is in it for them.

“We want to be involved,” Prude said.

He said the tax should be broadened to help Mississippi County as a whole. He also stated the big industries do not hire Mississippi County residents like they should.

Lester also spoke on getting industries to do a better job of hiring Mississippi County residents.

“We see the empty houses in Blytheville,” he said. “The employees are living in other places and are not paying the real estate taxes here.”

Clif Chitwood, president of the Mississippi County Economic Development, said 20 years ago they did not think they could ask companies to hire locally.

“We assumed they would,” he said.” “Most plants do hire from the county but the three big plants do not.”

He said Big River Steel has 46 percent from the county and Nucor has 36 percent from within the county. Denso has all but two employees from Mississippi County.

“With the wages the steel plant offers, more people are willing to drive,” Chitwood said. “We do not pay any incentives unless hired from within the county or the Bootheel of Missouri.”

He also said the industries pay 60 percent of the property tax collected in the county.

Chitwood said through the tax 4,000 jobs were created with 3,600 still in existence. He said they do not just give out money to industries. Investments are made in buildings, property, expansions, college training, etc.

“Over 25 percent of the people in Mississippi County are working at a job the economic tax brought in,” Chitwood said. “I defend the tax. $4 billion has been invested in the county with a $150 million annual payroll. Where would we be without it?”

“I am not opposed to having a wide discussion about the tax. I know I can do better. Right now the vote is on the ballot. Arkansas law dictates how we can use the money. We can’t use it for restaurants or retail.”

Chitwood said he is proud of the big companies and the small companies helped by the economic development tax.

He said they are not opposed to looking at all options but if it is defeated in August, it will not come back. He said they are working on other projects for the county and he believes there will be more jobs returning from overseas.

Prude asked if the Quorum Court could consider adding to the incentives for hiring in-county minority residents.

“We need to do something smarter,” Prude said. “Let’s modify the tax to benefit tax. I am not saying you are doing a bad job, I think you, the mayor and other people should come together to get it turned around for the whole county.”

The question was asked why the vote was set in August, two years before it is to sunset.

Chitwood explained they need to know the funding will continue when working to get companies to come to the area.

Chitwood was asked how many of the 18 members on the board are African American and he responded three.

Justice of the Peace Cecil McDonald said he represents District 6. He encouraged citizens to attend the Quorum Court meetings and the committee meetings. He said the Quorum Court and the Economic Development team do an excellent job and expressed his support for the tax.

“If you think I want to pay more tax, no I do not but I will pay it to help Mississippi County and the people,” McDonald said. “Come to the meetings, get your information first hand.”

Justice Michael White, senior member of the Quorum Court, said  county officials needed to have the election early.

“Industries plan years ahead and we need to be prepared two to four years ahead to know if we will have a continued flow of money,” White said. “August was just a month to start the process. It did not interfere with fall school activities. The election process has to be planned step by step with a resolution and an ordinance, 60 to 90 days out. We could have had it in November if we had waited to start the process. There is nothing special about August but once the process is started you can’t back up on the date. We are having these meetings so you can vote your heart.”

White informed the group the tax raises an average of $3.5 million a year.

“At this time in the election, the date is set and we can’t pull back at this point,” he said.

Tony Hollis commented he would like to know about the diversity and equity.

“The tax is good at drawing industries but we are not getting our fair share of equity,” he said. Hollis asked about the number of black males hired at Big River.

“I have met three who have not received an interview,” he said. “I’m all for growing Mississippi County. We went to Little Rock and we were told if quotas of hiring black, the deal was off. We deserve equity. We want our fair share of the pie. Make it beneficial to all.”

Tamika Jennings, economic development vice president, said she reached out to Dave and Buster’s when she first started in 2007 and found out it would require a population of 1 million.

“I agree we need more people but other places have more money,” she said. “We went to QC in 2020 and asked for one additional staff member and we were turned down.”

She invited anyone to contact her with questions.

She also said they can check out the new website at www.cottontosteel.com. It has a history of the county.

The county attorney Jacob Holmes talked to the group saying he believes the tax can be expanded. He expressed his concern that Blytheville is getting left behind. He said he would like to see the tax more accessible to small businesses. He went on to talk about grants available for small businesses. He said he thought they should do a better job of getting information to the people.

“I’m a supporter of the tax but I don’t think the public opinion is good,” he said.  “I don’t think it will pass.”

Citizen Tracy Adams questioned the hiring practices of local industries who he says do not hire many African Americans.

He also asked about the $8 million the Quorum Court has that has not been earmarked.

He went on to say if the tax does not pass it would be bad for the county.

“We are the number one steel producer in America,” he said. “Why are we looking like we are in Mississippi County?”

Justice of the Peace Dr. Reggie Cullom spoke about why people are moving away. He said everyone needs to get together and quit making a difference because of color and treat everyone the same.

“We did not start the fight,” Lester said. “The fire was already burning.”

Justice McDonald asked attorney Holmes to continue looking at ways to expand legally.

“If we cross the line, we could be shut down,” Justice McDonald said. “We need to know and have it in writing. Everything done has to be within the law. If it can’t be legal,it can’t happen. Everything you want we want but it has to be legal.”

Chitwood thanked everyone for attending. Prude said he thought they are going in the right direction.

“We don’t want to vote down the tax, we want to talk to the justices and see what we can do together and approach change and do things different to help everyone,” he said.