As a matter of procedure, every year the Fayetteville City Council must approve an ordinance to renew the levy on property within the city.
That ordinance came before the council last night, however, Alderman Matthew Petty asked the council to delay the vote until the next meeting to give council members the opportunity to think of a levy that would support a new investment for the city.
“I’m not sure that we should raise it, but at the same time I want to keep it on the table,” Petty said.
Petty said he was interested in brainstorming ideas for investments that have one-time costs and would give the city a return.
The levy is currently at 3.1 mills, and funds the Fayetteville Public Library, the police and firefighter’s pension fund, and the general fund.
Voters recently opposed a new millage increase for Fayetteville High School, but Petty said citizens were more opposed to the plan than the new tax.
The other council members agreed to hold the ordinance on the second reading, but some seemed hesitant to consider a new millage.
Alderman Bobby Ferrell said raising the millage wouldn’t be “constructive from an economic development point of view.”
Alderman Shirley Lucas of Ward 4 also expressed doubts about raising the levy.
“I don’t have a problem with waiting two weeks,” she said. “But it’s going to have to be a pretty good project.”
The council also tabled the rock blasting and red dirt mining ordinances because they have been sent back to the ordinance review committee. The two ordinances would directly impact two companies in west Fayetteville, Rogers Group Inc., which operates a rock quarry and Big Red Dirt Farm.
The ordinance review committee meets today at 4:30 in Room 326 of the City Administration Building and will consider these two ordinances.
Mary Robbins is a guest contributor for the Fayetteville Flyer. Mary declared Fayetteville as her hometown upon moving here for college. She is a Journalism graduate who enjoys live music, the outdoors and attending city council meetings. For more of Mary’s contributions, visit her author page.
