Voters in Greenwood approved the 10-year extension of a 0.75% sales tax to fund more safety, infrastructure, and parks projects, and Van Buren voters approved a new 0.5% sales tax that also will be devoted to safety and community projects.
In Greenwood, the sales tax extension received 527 (59.82%) votes, with 354 (40.18%) voting no. In Van Buren, the new sales tax received 1,182 (52.86%) votes, with 1,014 (47.14%) voting against it. The two bond questions for fire department work and parks and recreation improvements also were approved by voters.
Another Greenwood fire station, more street and bridge repairs, and continued expansion and improvement of city parks will be funded by revenue from the tax, according to Greenwood Mayor Doug Winslow and the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, which lobbied for the tax extension.
The tax, which has a 10-year sunset requiring voter approval to renew, was first approved by voters in 2006, and renewed in 2015 with 68% of the vote.
“This tax is about public safety,” according to the city. “The dedicated tax allows the general fund to pay for the Police Department. Greenwood is one of the safest cities in Arkansas as a result. Renewing the Three Quarter Per Cent Sales Tax gives Greenwood the opportunity to stay safe, healthy and prosperous for the next generation.”
Greenwood Chamber Director Bob Purvis said the tax has allowed the city to build and renovate parks, including much of the work at Bell Park. The tax also supported construction of the city’s second fire station, and expansion of the first fire station.
VAN BUREN TAX
The 0.5% sales tax increase in Van Buren will fund approximately $36.8 million in parks and recreational improvements with a new community center, and $8.2 million for a new fire station and equipment.
Prior to placing the new sales tax on the ballot, city officials and community advocates collected information from years of community meetings, surveys and citizen feedback. The process resulted in the belief that citizens wanted more safety services and the expansion of public spaces for swimming, basketball, volleyball and pickleball.
“In addition, public safety and the safety of those who protect us must remain a top priority,” Hurst said prior to the election. “To that end, the time is also now to build a new fire station to replace station No. 3 (at 2821 Bryan Road). Our firemen are second to none, and they need a modern station to help support public safety efforts. The March 3 ballot addresses this need as well.”
In 2025, The city sales tax brought in $8.734 million, up 0.5% from the $8.687 million in 2024.
In 2025, sales tax revenues funded the Interstate 40/Highway 59 interchange project, which began in October 2025 and is scheduled to be completed in December of this year. It also funded a downtown drainage project, the parks and recreation master plan update that was completed in 2025, a new chamber of commerce business resource center that opened last year, multiple street overlay and drainage projects, and four new pedestrian crossing signals around schools, Hurst said.
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