Pine Bluff voters reject 2 sales tax proposals

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The people of Pine Bluff have spoken about where they want their tax dollars to go.

In a special election on Tuesday, voters decided to not go forward and rejected two sales tax proposals.

One is a three-eight cents sales tax for public safety initiatives, the other is a five-eighths cent sales tax for Go-Forward Pine Bluff, a non-profit aimed at making the city more inviting.

Go-Forward currently receives five-eighths cent sales tax from this election years ago.

Go-Forward said they are going to keep working on the projects they have in motion until their cycle of receiving the money ends in late 2024.

Ryan Watley, CEO of Go-Forward said they've spent about 18 of the 25 million in tax dollars on projects like the innovation hub, sixth and main street developments, and the aquatic center.

"The things that we promised in the first cycle, we have either started 92 percent of those or completed that," Watley said. "Some of the projects like the aquatic center were planned under about two administrations ago and here we are being here 5 years and have been able to accomplish many things."

But Ivan Whi...