At-large LR director Phillips pens open letter to residents, shares poll results on tax proposal
ANTWAN PHILLIPS (file photo)
Brian Chilson
At-large Little Rock Director Antwan Phillips has shared an open letter to city residents on the sales tax increase proposal before the board. The board is set to vote Tuesday, May 11, on whether to refer to voters
Mayor Frank Scott’s proposal to raise the city sales tax by 1%. The permanent increase would generate an estimated $53 million per year.
Along with the letter (and perhaps the real purpose of the letter), Phillips has appended the results of a poll conducted by Little Rock’s inVeritas Research and Consulting on behalf of the Arkansas Zoo Foundation. According to the poll, 69% of voters said they would support the tax increase. Among the categories the tax would fund, early childhood education received the most support with 76% of those polled in support. Board members have perhaps been most skeptical about the early childhood component, which would largely send money to the state to expand the vouchers for infants and toddlers to attend high-quality child care providers. The poll results Phillips attached don’t include detailed polling information, such as how many were polled or their demographics.