Ballot Push for Water Bonds

The group Arkansans for Clean Water is leading the effort to convince voters at the November election to authorize the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission to issue $300 million of bonds.

The bond measure was put on the general election ballot by the Legislature in 2007. The commission can issue no more than $60 million of the bonds during any two-year budget cycle unless lawmakers approve a larger issue. No more than $100 million of the total proceeds could be allocated to irrigation projects.

A recent survey by the commission found more than $1 billion of needed water and wastewater projects in the state.

The state will use the bond proceeds to make low-interest loans and grants to local governments for water and sewer projects. Without the money, proponents said, Arkansas would lose $14 million to $20 million of federal matching grants.

Arkansas voters approved $300 million of state water and sewer bonds in 1998.

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