Beginning with Wednesday night’s Presidential Debates, ballot Issue No. 1 will start advertising on Conway cable television. The 30-second campaign commercial will inform voters of the local projects that are proposed through the passage of the proposed Constitutional Amendment, including finishing the job of expanding I-40 to six lanes between Conway and Little Rock.
“We want Conway and Faulkner County voters to know what Issue No. 1 will do specifically for them,” said Craig Douglass, campaign coordinator for Move Arkansas Forward, the sponsor of Issue No. 1. “[We believe] voting for Issue No. 1 will relieve congestion on I-40, as well as provide significant new revenue for local road and street projects.”
Issue No. 1 will finance a $1.3 billion bond issue with a temporary 1/2-cent sales tax for the continuing construction of four-lane and six-lane highway projects designed to connect all parts of the state. The sales tax would not apply to groceries, medicine or gasoline. In addition, Faulkner County and every incorporated city and town in the county will share in over $21 million in new turnback revenue over the next 10 years. Conway will receive nearly $10.5 million of that amount for its city street program. When the bonds are paid off in 10 years or less, the tax will be abolished and cannot be renewed.
“The television campaign is designed to inform voters of the benefits of Issue No. 1 designed to improve the Arkansas economy, as it supports over 40,000 jobs,” Douglass said. “Plus, the campaign commercial for Conway talks about what’s in it for you, and how it will improve I-40, and create new jobs through projects for county roads and city streets.”