ElectionWednesday, November 4
Arkansas voters approve Issue 4, a $500 million bond for water projects
The Today in Little Rock team
If you've dealt with a boil order, this one's for you. Arkansas voters have approved Issue 4, a $500 million bond for water, sewer and drainage projects, according to an Associated Press projection. KHBS reports it won't increase taxes. In Gurdon, residents described recent outages and boil orders before the vote. The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission would run an application process to pick which projects get money, and the state would pay the debt over time from its general fund.
Issue 4 allows up to $500 million in bonds, with caps
- $500 million
- in bonds Issue 4 would allow
- $60 million
- most in bonds in two years without lawmakers
- $165 million
- most that could go to irrigation
- $13 billion
- or more in water infrastructure needs statewide
- Temporary notes would have to mature within five years
- Bonds could also refinance earlier bond issues
- Governor, chief fiscal officer and lawmakers review a plan before any sale
Issues 1 and 2 passed too. The AP declared both passed at about 9 p.m. Tuesday: Issue 1, the citizens-only voting amendment, and Issue 2, which changes the wording on the right to keep and bear arms. All four measures on the ballot came from the General Assembly.
Issues 1 and 2 passed by wide margins
Unofficial returns, 99% of the vote counted as of about 1:10 a.m.
Issue 1: Citizens Only Voting Amendment
Issue 2: Right to keep and bear arms
Source: arkansasonline.com
View as table
| Race | Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue 1: Citizens Only Voting Amendment | For, won | 595,916 | 69.1% |
| Issue 1: Citizens Only Voting Amendment | Against | 266,871 | 30.9% |
| Issue 2: Right to keep and bear arms | For, won | 612,343 | 70.8% |
| Issue 2: Right to keep and bear arms | Against | 252,638 | 29.2% |
Sources: khbs, KATV, arkansasonline.com