Friends, 

On Tuesday, the Little Rock Board of Directors will consider a comprehensive plan to re-invest in our City and create safer streets and stronger neighborhoods. If the Board approves the plan Tuesday, Little Rock voters will decide in the Nov. 5 general election whether to increase the city's sales tax by one percent.

Board action is a milestone in our ongoing, months-long conversation with residents about how to shape the plan to focus on Little Rock's priority needs. We have held dozens of listening sessions and formal and informal discussions to develop this proposal. Our vision is that the tax plan will bring new progress and prosperity to Little Rock for generations to come.

With the Board's approval, voters will decide on a 5/8ths-cent sales tax to pay for capital projects like vehicles for our police officers, equipment and renovations for our fire stations and quality-of-life enhancements. The 5/8ths-cent tax would end, or "sunset," after 10 years. Another 3/8ths of a cent will be permanent, and it will fund ongoing maintenance and infrastructure needs. 

We hope you were able to attend our community meetings, or that you have learned about the plan through our website or social media. We value and appreciate all voices in our City, so if you need more information, reach out to our team. Also, please feel free to contact your city directors ahead of Tuesday's meeting. 

An additional sales tax would generate more than $650 million over 10 years, while Little Rock taxes would remain competitive or lower than sales taxes in many surrounding areas and comparable cities in the United States. 

The plan was built upon the priority needs of the City based on input from residents, city officials and the Board.

Our focus is on the "four Ps:" Public Safety, Public Infrastructure, Parks and Recreation and the Port and Economic Development. The proposal includes: 

• Funding for Public Safety including advanced technology to equip the Little Rock Police Department's Real-Time Crime Center, acquisition of new LRPD vehicles, support of our 21st Century policing efforts and Community Response Teams, and purchase of new Fire Department vehicles and apparatus.
• Public Infrastructure dollars to pay for priority street, sidewalk and drainage improvements across our City. This is what City Director B.J. Wyrick calls the "nuts and bolts," and we address those important needs in the plan.
• Generational investments in Parks and Recreation to include our first-ever youth outdoor and indoor sports complexes, revenue-generating projects that advance our public safety focus by providing opportunities for kids. We will re-imagine War Memorial and Hindman Parks, refurbish Rebsamen Tennis Center and our municipal golf courses, complete a senior center and provide essential upgrades across our parks system.
• Support for our industrial park, the Port of Little Rock, to attract new jobs that grow our economy. Over five years, the City's $30 million investment in the Port has led to an $831 million return in capital. We must keep the progress going to benefit Little Rock and the entire region.

Today (July 15) marks the start of Project Impact, our program to saturate city services in certain neighborhoods of Little Rock. Our current Project Impact area of focus is south of 12th Street to Asher Avenue and west from Woodrow Street to University Avenue.

With Project Impact, we focus on how we can best utilize existing city resources to clean up neighborhoods and reduce crime. We are excited about the initiative and anticipate that residents will be able to see a real difference in their communities. We know that neighborhood revitalization efforts have long-term, sustainable benefits.

We kicked off Project Impact a few days ago with a launch party at Curran Conway Park in the Oak Forest neighborhood. Our appreciation goes out to community partners like Central Arkansas Library System, Central Arkansas Water, Entergy, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority and more for attending the launch party to ensure residents got connected with resources.

If you would like to volunteer to help make a difference through Project Impact, or if you have questions about the initiative, learn more here.

• The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, July 16, at 6 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock's Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, click here. 
• The City's Public Works Department hosts two public meetings this week to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about and discuss certain infrastructure projects. Today (Monday, July 15), at 5:30 p.m., there will be a meeting at West Central Community Center in Ward 6. Projects to be discussed include widening of Arthur Lane and drainage on Pine Summit Court, Shackleford Road and Dorchester Drive. West Central is at 8616 Colonel Glenn Road. Then, on Thursday, July 18, at 5:30 p.m., a public meeting will be held to discuss improvements to Vimy Ridge Road in Ward 7. That meeting is at Southwest Community Center, 6401 Baseline Road. Residents are invited to attend both meetings.
• The Movies at MacArthur series continues Tuesday, July 16, at 6:30 at the MacArthur Museum of Military History, 503 E. Ninth St. The featured film is "Unforgettable: The Korean War Conflict." The event is free.
• Don't forget that we can join your community or neighborhood organizations, civic groups, trade associations or other groups to talk about the Results For the Rock sales tax proposal. We want to make sure all residents have opportunities to learn first-hand about the plan, ask questions and provide feedback. Click here to request a presentation or speaker at your upcoming meetings or events.