The Arkansas Nightmare

This paper examines recent efforts in Arkansas to nullify property taxes. It describes how anti-tax citizens, whose push for a constitutional amendment in 1998 was thwarted by the state supreme court, have vowed to collect enough signatures to place the amendment on the 2000 ballot. The proposed amendment will abolish ad valorem taxes upon real and personal property; will prevent the General Assembly or any local government from imposing or increasing any tax, fee, or other exaction; and will repeal all laws and constitutional provisions that conflict with the amendment. In Arkansas, property taxes are a major source of funding for education, with projected revenue in 1999 expected to be $983.3 million. Even so, the state ranked 47th in property taxes as a share of personal income and as a percentage of funding for schools through property taxes--only six states' property taxes are lower than Arkansas. Estimates of the impact, should the proposed amendment pass, show that public schools would lose $425.7 million. School officials are concerned that if the amendment passes, school construction will be halted, revenue streams will become unstable, increased state funding will result in less local control of public education, and sharp reductions in the quantity and quality of education will become evident. (RJM)