Rogers voters to weigh $457.25 million bond package Nov. 3

Rogers voters are scheduled to decide Nov. 3 whether the city can pursue six bond issues totaling a reported $457.25 million and continue its existing 1% local sales/use tax. The proposals have not been approved, and the city says they would not add another 1% tax or raise the current rate. Early voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 19.

The six questions cover refinancing existing bonds and proposed work on streets and stormwater, parks and recreation, fire, police and animal services. Reported allocations are:

Proposed street, park and service work

The street and stormwater plan includes repair, resurfacing or rebuilding work on roughly 200 miles of streets, along with specified street and intersection improvements. About $5 million is reported for stormwater planning and data work.

The parks proposal would add about 250 acres of parkland, including a planned west-side park, and acquire and expand the Rogers Activity Center. The city projects the work would increase its parkland by 38%. The fire proposal includes a training center, station work and fire trucks. Police projects include an evidence-storage and support building and a station renovation.

The animal-services proposal would fund a replacement campus intended to approximately double shelter capacity. The city also projects a 400% increase in police evidence-storage capacity. These are proposed projects and projected outcomes, not completed changes.

Tax and ballot conditions

The City of Rogers says the six questions would appear separately on the ballot, and its FAQ says the refinancing issue must pass for the other five to proceed. The FAQ says bonds approved in 2018 are scheduled to be paid off in 2030. If refinancing and an extension are approved, it estimates payoff around 2047, while noting exact terms are not yet established. That estimate concerns the bonds; it does not establish that the sales/use tax itself would end in 2047.

There would be no immediate tax or project change before voters decide. Rogers Lowell Chamber President and CEO Raymond Burns said the chamber board endorsed the proposal, citing public safety, infrastructure and quality of life. Transportation-planning business owner Ryan Hale also supported it, pointing to growth, congestion and connected transportation routes. The election is scheduled for Nov. 3.