The Washington County Quorum Court is considering an ordinance to create a new Industrial Development Authority, a move made possible by legislation passed during the 2025 Arkansas legislative session. The proposal will first be heard by the County Services Committee Monday night before advancing to the full Quorum Court.
While supporters frame the authority as an “economic development” tool, this ordinance could expose county taxpayers to new financial obligations, reduce the local tax base, and limit future oversight. With key questions about bonds, tax abatements, and inter-county participation still unanswered, we are urging justices of the peace to slow down and fully understand the implications before taking action.
Ordinance Adopting Creation of The Industrial Development Authority. This Ordinance is a result of the passage of the “Industrial Development Authorities Expansion Act” (A.C.A. 14-189-101, et seq.). This was Senate Bill 361 passed in April of 2025.
Our Summary:
When Economic Development is mentioned by government, there are three things that come to mind:
- The taxpayer is asked to pay someone else’s debts or tax bill.
- Tax increases are the ultimate result.
- When workforce is smaller in an area than the need (such as Washington County)—those who get tax breaks through Economic Development end up hiring at higher pay the employees from profitable companies who pay current taxes —causing current profitable companies to lose their workforce or having to compete against their own money and own tax dollars.
These Northwest Arkansas Legislators did NOT vote in favor of creating the “industrial development authority”:
Senate:
– Sen. Jim Dotson
– Sen. Joshua Bryant
– Sen. Clint Penzo
– Sen. Bryan King
House:
– Rep. Hope Duke
– Rep. Chad Puryear
– Rep. Rebecca Burkes
– Rep. Mindy McAlindon
– Rep. Austin McCollum
– Rep. Nick Burkes
– Rep. Brit McKenzie
– Rep. Robin Lundstrum
– Rep. Kendon Underwood
The main points here for JP’s would be:
- Where is the fire? Have you been in conversation about this for months? If not you should be before taking any action…
- Do you understand this Act/Senate Bill 361 well enough to teach it to a 10th grade high school class? If no, then vote “no” until you can do so!
- To what exact obligation is the county exposed?
- Do you know exactly how this authority will work? (then we suggest that you write up an op-ed for the newspaper and get feedback from your voters….before passing this ordinance.)
- Do you realize you have no say in whether bonds are issued by the authority?
- Do you know what would trigger obligations by the county to pay the bonds?
- Do you understand what taxes you are obligating yourself to no longer collect on those to whom the authority sells property?
- Do you understand your limitations to have a say in those tax assessing decisions?
- What safeguards are in place to keep this from being a way for friends of the board members to keep from paying property taxes or get property at a low cost or low interest rate loans?
- Why are you going in with Benton County?
- What is the position of Benton County Quorum Court and to-be elected county judge on this issue?
- How is Madison County involved?
- Why the need to rush into it?
- Why is Washington County judge taking the lead on this?
- Have you looked at the fact that spending is out of control by your current county judge—look at the numbers…wild!
- You do not have your own legal representation in this county quorum court which is sadly obvious—you are only advised to do what the County Judge wishes by his legal team. We have witnessed this time and time again. Whatever you choose to do—get advice outside of the current legal team on this and do so by using an attorney or firm who was not involved with the passage of this bill through the Arkansas Legislature. All things are not without prejudice and this is certainly one of those. You have certainly spent a lot of dollars on outside legal advice in the past two years. This is an area where you should do that again. Elections are soon. Please hold off on passing this until you understand it and then see what the voters prefer.
ForSB361, see the following: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb361&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R&Search=
CONTACT YOUR JP AND TELL THEM TO HOLD OFF ON PASSING THIS:
Washington County Justices of the Peace
MEETING INFO:
Washington County Services Meeting — Monday, February 2, 2026
Washington County Courthouse
280 North College
Fayetteville, AR
Meetings are live-streamed on the County’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar
| Bradley Bruns – District 1 | bradley.bruns@washingtoncountyar.gov | 479-466-1700 |
| David Wilson – District 2 | dwilson@washingtoncountyar.gov | 870-323-1836 |
| Robert Massingill – District 3 | Robert.Massingill@washingtoncountyar.gov | 79-427-1929 |
| Vladimir Rivera Lopez – District 4 | Vladimir.Lopez@washingtoncountyar.gov | |
| Kyle Lyons – District 5 | kylelyons@washingtoncountyar.gov | (501) 503-0543 |
| Lisa Ecke – District 6 | lecke@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 200-6134 |
| Charles Dean – District 7 | CDean@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 274-0419 |
| Shawndra Washington – District 8 | SWashington@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 287-7951 |
| Beth Coker – District 9 | bcoger@washingtoncountyar.gov | 479-306-9994 |
| Robert Dennis – District 10 | rdennis@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 409-6904 |
| Suki Highers – District 11 | SHighers@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 310-0510 |
| Evelyn Rios Stafford – District 12 | estafford@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 879-2068 |
| Willie Leming – District 13 | WLeming@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 236-5799 |
| Gary Ricker – District 14 | GRicker@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 841-6600 |
| Butch Pond – District 15 | bpond@washingtoncountyar.gov | (479) 879-5594 |
