Some Helena-West Helena officials are still wondering how the Helena-West Helena Phillips County Port Authority got the short end of the stick when county officials made a final decision concerning tax revenues. The PA was receiving 20 percent of the tax, which sunsets in 2010.
"I am not in agreement with this and the action that we took at the last council meeting. We did not get all of the details before we took the action at the last council meeting," stated Helena-West Helena council member Jay Hollowell in an e-mail May 5 to Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley.
"Your concern is noted. I do not know how it is that you all did not get all of the details unless it was short-circuited by Mrs. Gattas' presentation being cut off," replied Valley in a lengthy response.
Valley said the port was excluded from getting a portion of the tax after they demanded 20 percent.
"The port came to an intergovernmental council meeting and demanded 20 percent," said Valley.
Valley said that area mayors and the county judge asked that the port reconsider their demand. The PA agreed to meet in special session to come to a consensus.
"The port then called a special meeting on a Wednesday afternoon at 5:15. Six of the 11 people showed up. The motion was essentially stated 'I (the motion maker) talked with a few of the guys after the meeting (intergovernmental council) the other day and we thought that 10 percent would be good and I move we propose to take 10 percent of the tax.' This motion was quickly seconded and the majority vote taken. The entire meeting was approximately 5 minutes and very little discussion was had," Valley told Hollowell.
"The port was asked how many jobs were at the port site in 2009 and the answer was 15. One question was how many jobs were there in 1999 and no answer was provided," explained Valley.
The PA has suffered several failed projects over the years.
A letter surfaced at the May 5 Helena-West Helena City Council session addressed to the council from the PA.
The PA said that the council was "grossly misinformed," that they owed over $1 million to the USDA for a loan and that their expenses were $320,000 a year. The PA also pointed out that the crane at the port generated over $500,000 in tax revenue as it offloaded pipes for the pipeline.
"The Port Authority is disappointed that our elected officials chose not to help us with our future needs, especially since their would not be a so-called "Harbor Tax" without our resources and efforts nine years ago," said the letter.
Valley told Hollowell that the Phillips County Quorum Court wouldn't agree to give the PA any money.
"The County Judge at the next intergovernmental council meeting following that port meeting informed the council that he had been assured that the quorum court would not pass any ordinance including any of the tax proceeds going to the port authority. This pronouncement comes after we had already been told from the start that the port had informed the county judge that it no longer needed any tax proceeds. Additionally, the county judge went on to say that the port "should have planned" for this day and the cities and the county need more money," said Valley.
"None of this information above materially changes what was presented to the council by Ms. (Becky) Gattas (Phillips County treasurer) in her interaction with the council at the last meeting," said Valley.
"Should this body decide to oppose the proposal as presented, we will be placed in the situation where the quorum court passes a simple 1 cent sales tax ordinance to be divided pro rata. Additionally, the county has incurred the expenses of having the ordinance and agreement based upon the previous vote of this and other bodies," said Valley.
The agreement was for the smaller cities in the county to receive five percent off the top and then have all the cities and county share the remainder based on population.
The election is set for Aug. 11 if everything goes according to plans.
No further communications between elected officials have surfaced.
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Some Helena-West Helena officials are still wondering how the Helena-West Helena Phillips County Port Authority got the short end of the stick when county officials made a final decision concerning tax revenues. The PA was receiving 20 percent of the tax, which sunsets in 2010.
"I am not in agreement with this and the action that we took at the last council meeting. We did not get all of the details before we took the action at the last council meeting," stated Helena-West Helena council member Jay Hollowell in an e-mail May 5 to Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley.
"Your concern is noted. I do not know how it is that you all did not get all of the details unless it was short-circuited by Mrs. Gattas' presentation being cut off," replied Valley in a lengthy response.
Valley said the port was excluded from getting a portion of the tax after they demanded 20 percent.
"The port came to an intergovernmental council meeting and demanded 20 percent," said Valley.
Valley said that area mayors and the county judge asked that the port reconsider their demand. The PA agreed to meet in special session to come to a consensus.
"The port then called a special meeting on a Wednesday afternoon at 5:15. Six of the 11 people showed up. The motion was essentially stated 'I (the motion maker) talked with a few of the guys after the meeting (intergovernmental council) the other day and we thought that 10 percent would be good and I move we propose to take 10 percent of the tax.' This motion was quickly seconded and the majority vote taken. The entire meeting was approximately 5 minutes and very little discussion was had," Valley told Hollowell.
"The port was asked how many jobs were at the port site in 2009 and the answer was 15. One question was how many jobs were there in 1999 and no answer was provided," explained Valley.
The PA has suffered several failed projects over the years.
A letter surfaced at the May 5 Helena-West Helena City Council session addressed to the council from the PA.
The PA said that the council was "grossly misinformed," that they owed over $1 million to the USDA for a loan and that their expenses were $320,000 a year. The PA also pointed out that the crane at the port generated over $500,000 in tax revenue as it offloaded pipes for the pipeline.
"The Port Authority is disappointed that our elected officials chose not to help us with our future needs, especially since their would not be a so-called "Harbor Tax" without our resources and efforts nine years ago," said the letter.
Valley told Hollowell that the Phillips County Quorum Court wouldn't agree to give the PA any money.
"The County Judge at the next intergovernmental council meeting following that port meeting informed the council that he had been assured that the quorum court would not pass any ordinance including any of the tax proceeds going to the port authority. This pronouncement comes after we had already been told from the start that the port had informed the county judge that it no longer needed any tax proceeds. Additionally, the county judge went on to say that the port "should have planned" for this day and the cities and the county need more money," said Valley.
"None of this information above materially changes what was presented to the council by Ms. (Becky) Gattas (Phillips County treasurer) in her interaction with the council at the last meeting," said Valley.
"Should this body decide to oppose the proposal as presented, we will be placed in the situation where the quorum court passes a simple 1 cent sales tax ordinance to be divided pro rata. Additionally, the county has incurred the expenses of having the ordinance and agreement based upon the previous vote of this and other bodies," said Valley.
The agreement was for the smaller cities in the county to receive five percent off the top and then have all the cities and county share the remainder based on population.
The election is set for Aug. 11 if everything goes according to plans.
No further communications between elected officials have surfaced.
