This week the Arkansas State House– City, County, Local Committee heard HB1912 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R-Elm Springs). The simple bill would provide property tax relief to Arkansans by reducing the assessment rate on the value of a person’s real property from 20% to 15%. With property valuations sharply increasing under rampant inflation and increased printing of money under former President Biden, Arkansans are paying more than ever in property taxes. This small change would at least provide some relief in the near term.
Unfortunately, the committee voted down the legislation. This was after taxpayer-funded lobbyists from the Arkansas Association of Counties and a county assessor testified against the bill. Too many counties want to keep the higher tax rate where it is to get more money from taxpayers based on inflationary real estate prices, not less.
It is a sad situation that efforts to reduce taxpayers’ property tax bill were defeated by using their own money against them. Under current law, the county real estate tax dollars paid by Arkansans are currently allowed to be used to hire and pay lobbyists and employees to directly lobby against and stop legislation that would be in the best interest of taxpayers. This is wrong, and too many legislators listen to these lobbyists and vote with them instead of in the interests of their taxpaying constituents.
New legislation filed this week by Rep. Brit McKenzie (R-Rogers) would possibly prevent some of these anti-taxpayer lobbying efforts. HB1973 would prohibit the use of taxpayer money at the state or local level to be used to hire a lobbyist. It would also prohibit the payment of membership dues to unions or other anti-taxpayer organizations that work against the interests of taxpayers for their benefit. However, this bill would not prohibit a government employee from acting as and registering as a lobbyist on behalf of their government employer.
It is time to stop this Catch-22, in which taxpayers’ money is used to pay lobbyists to keep taxes high, all to feed the mammoth and growing appetite of the mother government.
Call your legislator and tell them to pass HB1973, as the first step to stop taxpayer-funded lobbying to keep your taxes high.
As you can see from the video above, the vote on HB1912 was taken by voice, and no one requested a roll call. Here are the members of House City, County, and Local. Call them again and tell them you want your taxes reduced—so pass HB1912.
| CITY, COUNTY & LOCAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE | |||
| Chair | Representative Justin Gonzales | justinroryg@gmail.com | 870-245-6365 |
| Vice Chair | Representative Bart Schulz | info@bartschulz.com | 870-613-1940 |
| Representative Wade Andrews | wade.andrews@arkansashouse.org | 870-818-7067 | |
| Representative Alyssa Brown | alyssa.brown@arkansashouse.org | 501- 250-4014 | |
| Representative Karilyn Brown | karilyn.brown@arkansashouse.org | 501-580-9000 | |
| Representative Rebecca Burkes | rebecca.burkes@arkansashouse.org | 501-291-2302 | |
| Representative Frances Cavenaugh | frances.cavenaugh@arkansashouse.org | 870-886-4000 | |
| Representative Brad Hall | brad.hall@arkansashouse.org | 479-670-0545 | |
| Representative Mike Holcomb | mike.holcomb@arkansashouse.org | 870-489-7177 | |
| Representative Ashley Hudson | ashley.hudson@arkansashouse.org | 501-658-4096 | |
| Representative Mindy McAlindon | mindy.mcalindon@arkansashouse.org | 479-295-6677 | |
| Representative Tippi McCullough | tippi.mccullough@arkansashouse.org | 501-766-3177 | |
| Representative Brit McKenzie | brit.mckenzie@arkansashouse.org | 479-644-9001 | |
| Representative Jon Milligan | jonmilligan@ymail.com | 870-219-1261 | |
| Representative Stetson Painter | stetson.painter@arkansashouse.org | 501-733-3203 | |
| Representative Aaron Pilkington | aaron.pilkington@arkansashouse.org | 479-308-8384 | |
| Representative R. Scott Richardson | scott.richardson@arkansashouse.org | 479-308-8260 | |
| Representative Johnny Rye | johnny.rye@arkansashouse.org | 870-919-3690 | |
| Representative Tara Shephard | tara@taraforarkansas.com | 501-682-9800 | |
| Representative Richard Womack | richard@richardwomack.com | 870-403-6287 | |
