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HomeMy WebLinkAboutS-1356 Map 9Arkansas Democrat il(ll • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002 • 50 Cuts • Continued from Page 1 B now," he said. With low revenue projections, city leaders are about to begin a budgetary bloodletting to bring ex- penses in line. On Nov 26, interim City Manager Bruce Moore said, he will give the little Rock Board of Directors recommended cuts to close the projected $103 million gap Arts supporters fear culture will suffer. Normally working behind the scenes, museum directors and board members are showing their faces this year, asking city leaders to consider what cutting their thousands of dollars would do to the city's environment. "It would be really a bad thing ifthe city has to cut out the arts and the quality -of --life things:' said Al- ison Hall, executive director of the Children's Museum of Arkansas. In the next few weeks, other residents will ask city directors to spare programs. The bulk of this year's $164.7 million budget is the $105.8 million general fund that pays for services ranging from po- lice protection to mowing grass at parks. Next year's general fund is estimated to be 3.7 percent less — $101.8 million. Apartments • Continued from Page 1 B low-income tenants. Joseph Kemp, president of KRR Construction Co., made no promises, but said he would con- sider those options if that's what it will take to make the develop- ment work "What I have to do is go back and reconsider this and come back," he said. "You always want to be a good neighbor, and I try to do that in business, too." The $9 million complex, planned for the neighborhood near Chicot Road and Mabel - vale Pike, has met resistance from neighborhood associations and city directors who claim the low- income development will hurt property values and further con- gest roadways. The apartment complex is pro- posed with an income ceiling for eligible tenants. To qualify to live there, tenants could earn no more than 60 percent of the area's median family income as estab- lished by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment. For example, that would be $29,820 for a family of four. Through the controversy, de- velopers pushed the plan forward, winning approval from the Little Rock Planning Commission in a 6-4 vote and securing tax-exempt bonds through the Arkansas De- velopment Finance Authority. Now, the use of tax-exempt bonds for the project is in ques- tion because Mayor Jim Dailey withdrew his support, citing pres- sure from the city board and neighborhood leaders. Without Dailey's support, state officials say the tax-exempt bonds cannot be used to finance the project. With the development's f end- ing in doubt, Kemp asked to meet with Adcock, Wyrick and John Honea, president of the South Brookwood/Ponderosa Neigh- borhood Association, to find common ground. While no agreement was reached and both Adcock and Wyrick made it clear that their opposition to the development lies mostly in the low-income requirements for tenants, the meeting generated a list of items opponents said would make the development acceptable. "Our first choice is for you to rezone the whole thing to sin- gle-family homes," Adcock said. Adcock told Kemp that if he didn't want to rezone from mul- tifamily to single-family, he could build the row of single-family homes included in the current de- velopment plan, improve the roads, and then build the apart- ment complex without the income restrictions. "Let us get to know you, let us see the quality of your work," she said. While Kemp said he thought it unreasonable that he have to pay taxes on undeveloped land for a couple of years when he's ready to build now, he agreed to consider the plan. NEWS IN BRIEF e I e e I ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT -GAZETTE Woman brandished knife, officers say Police arrested a Sherwood woman Monday morning after she threatened a Little Rock woman with a kitchen knife dur- ing a dispute, police said. Angela Courtney, 37, was charged with aggravated assault after threatening Shannon In- gram, 31, of Little Rock in front of a residence near 23rd and State streets Monday around 10 a.m., police said._ The process and results will be painful, Moore warned the gathering. "We have scaled this organi- zation back to bare bones," he said. "You can't cut $10 million from city government without having some internal pain. We're going to have it." little Rock leaders will have less money to spend next year partly because of a Pulaski County cir- cuit judge's ruling that the coun- ty's use tax is illegal. Little Rock's $31 million portion of the tax must be held in escrow next year as of- ficials appeal the decision. Moore also expects Little Rock to experience a $2.3 million re- duction in taxes residents pay on their utility bills. He wants to eliminate the $1.90 general fund charge residents began paying on their trash bills this year, which would take away $1.2 million more. Expenditures such as 4 per- cent raises for city employees would increase costs by $3 mil- lion, making the hole larger. "You talk about cutting. What is the likelihood of raising more revenue?" one woman asked. City leaders say none. Little Rock's budget is mostly fed by sales taxes, which only voters can raise. Property taxes and utility Conway is Continued from Page 1B "We just don't have the cap- ital money to improve our streets or fund the tremendous number of improvements that have to be done around the city," Townsell told the council. "There is an un- willingness among residents to raise the sales tax ... [but] we've got to have money for a capital improvements fund." Rather then raise the millage rate, the council voted 8-0 to ap- prove the city's millage rate at its current 1.9 mills. Aldermen Maurice Moix said he received more telephone calls from people in the past few days concerned about the city's effort to increase the millage than for any other issue in his 22 years on the City Council. "This really is cramming something down people's throats that we can do legally. I think do- ing this would alienate people in a tough manner. I don't think this is enough money to alienate the people," Moix said. Townsell said he agreed that fees are other main sources of rev- enue, but the city is levying the maximum 5 mills of property tax that state law allows. Raising utility fees would require voter approval or an agreement from utilities, which Finance Director Bob Bites said is unlikely. "The voters spoke on Nov 5," said Mike Coulson, a business leader who campaigned for the city's defeated quarter -percent sales tax increase. "They don't want a tax increase." Representatives of the arts lis- tened as one resident suggested the city quit giving money to mu- seums, symphonies ard theater. Often, the funding pays for reduced student ticket prices and gives at - risk youths exposure to arts. "We at home have to cut back," said Janell Romandia, a resident of the Oak Forest neighborhood. "And this is not essential." "Yes it is," one woman said. This year Little Rock will spend $7.9 million on agencies suchasthe Museum o.' Discov- ery, the Central Arkansas Tran- sit Authority and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. Moore said he will consider cut- ting funds from those agencies. As we look internail;b we will also look externally." a sales tax increase would be a more effective way to generate the money for the capital im- provement fund but added that voters have twice in the past three years rejected sales tax in- creases and he was not opti- mistic about a third attempt. Council members Chris Thornton and Shelia Whitmore said they would support a millage increase. But Thornton said his support binges on the city being more focused in what the money would be spent on and regularly updating residents on its progress. Whitmore said she would support an increase — if the city does not raise the millage rate to its max- imum right away. A mill is one -tenth of a cent. When used as a property tax rate,) mill produces $1 of tax for every $1,000 of a home's assessed evaluation. Property in Arkan- sas is assessed at 20 percent of its value. For example, a $75,000 house has an assessed value of $15,000. A 1-mill tax on that prop- erty would be $15. Residents of Conway and Faulkner County pay 42 mills, with about 80 percent of that go- Little Rock is not alone in its budgetary woes. A majority of city officials na- tionwide report Worse financial conditions than last year, a National League of Cities study says. Spend- ing on public safety has increased after last year's terrorist attacks, and costs associated with infra- structure are going up, too. "Expectations that these trends will continue into the future have local officials predicting a further worsening of conditions in 20031" the report says. "Two-thirds of city officials believe that their city will be less able to address financial needs in fiscal year 2Q03." Other budget hearings are scheduled for: ■ 7 p.m Thursday at Trinity Pres- byterian Church, 4501 Rahling Road ■ 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at Nathaniel Hill Recreation Complex, 2500 E. Sixth St. ■ 7 pm Dec 2 at Dee Brown Pub- lic Library, 6325 Base Line Road. ■ 7 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Neighbor- hood Resource Center,3805 W. 12th St. ■ 10 am Dec.7 at Northwest Po- lice Patrol Division,10001 Kanis Road ■ 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Fulbright Ele- mentary School, 300 Pleasant Val- ley Drive. ing to Conway public schools. The rest is divided between the city and county and goes toward roads and other capital im- provements, Tax Collector Mark Wilcox said Monday. He used the following ex- ample to illustrate what the pro- posed mill increase would have cost residents: For a home worth $100,000, the annual property tax would have increased to $79. Conway's millage rate was 5 mills until the early 1980s, when it was lowered to its current amount. Townsell said most cities in Arkansas have a millage rate substantially higher then Conway, and many have their rate set at 5 mills. Alderman Sandy Brewer said he opposed raising the millage rate because, as a tnatter of prin- ciple, he opposes the city's use of property taxes to generate money. "Raising the millage to 5 mills, I think that's a little bit arro- gant on our part," Brewer said. "I'll never be for raising the mill - age. It gives people no oppor- tunity to express their dissatis- faction." Biker arrested after high-speed chase, wreck BY REID FORGRAVE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT -GAZETTE A high-speed pursuit of a mo- torcyclist through city streets and local interstate highways ended Monday afternoon when the motorcycle driver hit a car near the Woodrow Street exit to Interstate 630, police said. Four young children were in the car when the motorcycle flew up onto the windshield, smashing it, and throwing the motorcyclist 10 feet into the street. The children escaped un- harmed, as did the can's driver. Arkansas State Police began the pursuit around 4:20 p.m. when Trooper Marshall Cooney spotted a blue 2001 650 Suzuki motorcycle speeding eastbound near the 148 mile marker of In- terstate 40. Police clocked the bike at 115 mph. Two squad cars chased the motorcyclist, later identified as Anthony B. Johnson, 22, of Lit- tle Rock off the interstate and south on Main Street in North Little Rock. At the corner of Main and 18th streets, police said Johnson ran a red light and turned left, heading toward Interstate 30. The two troopers chased Johnson until the motorcycle ex- ited I-630 at Woodrow Street, where the driver missed a stop sign and struck the older model white Chevrolet, driven by Bar- bara McCray, 56, of Little Rock With only minor injuries, Johnson tried to run from police but was tackled by Cooney and Trooper Adrian Ray. Johnson was arrested and charged with four counts of child endangerment, felony fleeing, improper passing, speeding, reckless driving, passing on the shoulder and three other traf- fic violations. Johnson was taken to Sher- wood jail, where he posted a $5,526 bail and was released. Traffic on Woodrow Street and on the interstate was im- peded for nearly a half-hour as police cleared the wreckage. "Riding is his whole life," said one of Johnson's friends who came to the accident scene. "He just wigged out. All he had to do was pull over." Attention: Post- menopausal women We are looking for past -menopausal volunteers to participate in a research study of an investigational medication ,3,� for HRT(hormone replacement therapy). r%� Volunteers should be 45-65 years old with no menstrual activity for the last 6 months. ?� Participants will receive studyA'a related medication and medical care, at no charge. To see i/you quality, please call: E 501 221 5000 or call toll -free 1-877-45-STUDY Bi ro you b RES HSOLU110NS Rea.rch Solmians, an Arkanus bated company. Meeks volunteers to participate In research RWdW rc.rw o broad mmw Oftbempeatic areas. Audience captivated by Irish band Altan BY LAURA LYNN BROWN ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT -GAZETTE Pure joy inhabited Robinson Center Music Hall on Monday evening when Altan, one of the premier bands playing Irish tra- ditional music, made its first vis- it to Arkansas. The quintet, named for a lake in County Donegal, played many selections from its newest CD, The Blue Idol. Two pieces were especially joy -in- ducing. The lively five -part jig "Roaring Water," co -written by fiddler Ciaran Tourish,is the kind of Irish tune that takes on a transcendent life of its own after several repetitions. And a set of reels, including the fierce "Gravel Walk," had the audience clapping and yipping as the band showcased the in- dividual talents of 11 dancers from two local schools of Irish dance. They say that eating choco- late induces feelings of well-be- ing. So does listening to the voice of lead singer and found- ing member Mairead Ni Mhaon- aigh, whose singing — in both English and Irish — was as cap- tivating as her exuberant fid- dling and her perpetual gener- ous smile. She's the kind of per- former audiences develop im- mediate crushes on. From the moment she stepped onstage she clearly was having a great time, an attitude that was in- fectious. Music The band was backed by the accomplished rhythms of Daithi Sproule on guitar (and occa- sional vocals) and Ciaran Cur- ran on bouzouki. The quietest member, Dermot Byrne, con- tributed sprightly accordion playing throughout the evening's two long sets. It wouldn't be Irish music without a melancholy moment. Fiddler Tourish played on the whistle a solo air whose Irish name translates as "Tune of the Ghosts," a haunting melody evoking an atavistic longing for the old country even in lis- teners who've never been there. Dr. Mark Pippenger, execu- tive director of the Arkansas Celtic Music Society, was largely responsible for bring- ing Allan here; he was re- warded by being invited to ac- company the band on a few tunes with his bodhran, an Irish drum. Allan will play tonight at 7:30 in the Grand Ballroom of the Ar- lington Hotel in Hot Springs. Tickets 1 $12 for students, senior citizens and active -duty military) are available at the Fine Arts Center, 405 Park Ave. in Hot Springs, or by calling (501) 922-3035. REDUCTION SALE All of our inventory will be priced from 20-50% OFF! To celebrate the start of our 25th year of 21 business, Cecil's i. is having its 'S •t: - EIRSTEVER sale. From Thursday, Nov. 21, through Wednesday, Nov. 27, we will be offering ,MRrt". fv1 l storewide savings on our whole inventory, „prPr, ,A•'2raC a,,{fl'.ryPr f r1 en r>i r This is our e way of saying Rrans frrarn ,: ai K YOU -for our past success in Arkansas, r Store Hours: �� Cecil v 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. t(tun osed Sunday) ""' pBPSt of the BPS[ 5 FINE JEWELRYNAWARDWINNIR 10720 NORTH RODNEY PARHAM WEST LITTLE ROCK IN TRELLIS SQUARE 225-5068 Au homM A,nl of }C cingular- wuaaessGO a ®00 0 r�IjGet ­aFREE Ericsson T61 d with a $20 donation to the Special %350 $ MO Minutes 39 350Anytime Minutes + 3,000 Bonus night and weekend 3,500 99 Minutes Rio. 500 Anytime Minutes +3,000 Bonus night and weekend Little Rock N. Little Rock Conway Jacksonville HURRY! while supplies last 5. Chenal Parkway (next to Target) 4905 XF Blvd. 2625 Donal Ste. 101 507-B N. 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