THE ISSUE
    White Hall School District patrons will vote on a proposed 1.4-mill real estate tax increase in the Sept. 15 school election.
    The amount is a compromise between previously considered sums of .9 and 2.3 mills over 30 and 20 years respectively. The proposed 1.4 mills would extend the district’s indebtedness 25 years through 2034 – 10 years beyond the district’s current commitment.
    The additional millage is needed to generate funding for the first phase of a two-tier improvement plan, much of which is mandated by state and federal requirements.

WHAT’S HAPPENED
    The school board unanimously approved placing the issue on the ballot in a June 9 meeting.
    If approved, the additional millage would raise the district’s millage from 37.8 to 39.2 mills. The average Arkansas millage rate is 36.71.
    A mill is one-tenth of a cent. As a basis for a property tax, each mill produces $1 in tax revenue for each $1,000 in assessed valuation of real property, which is calculated here at 20 percent of its appraised value.
    Improvements to be financed by the increased revenue, if the proposed hike is approved, include a $5.1-million addition of 17 permanent classrooms, and a $500,000 construction of a girls softball field at the high school.
    The overall sum of the proposed first-tier improvements is $7.14 millions.

WHAT’S NEXT
    Superintendent Dr. Larry Smith and the school board will present a slide show and answer questions on the proposed mill hike at a 5:30 p.m. public forum Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the Julius Brown Administration Building here.
    Board member Scott Pittillo said the meeting will be informal.