A citizens anti-tax group called Empower Arkansas is organizing a campaign to block the bond issue that would purchase land in Little Rock for President Clinton's presidential library.
The group has opposed the spending plans of several other local governments around the state and says it will petition for a public vote on the $16.5 million in general improvement bonds the Little Rock board of directors approved in March. The estimated $85-million cost of the library itself would be raised through private contributions.
Little Rock Mayor Jim Dailey claims the opposition will merely delay the process. "We do bond issues all the time; this isn't a tax increase," he said. "This is an economic development opportunity, and I'm disappointed that anyone would challenge it, but that's their right."
Posted April 20, 1998.