FORT SMITH - The Fort Smith Board of Directors reached the votes necessary Tuesday to move forward with the process of enacting a $100 fee on each business in the city. Directors voted 5-2 to approve the measure which is expected to raise some $480,000 for the city budget, of which some 70% would go to police, fire, and emergency services.
First-year businesses will be exempted from the fee.
The vote had passed the board with a 4-3 majority on December 5th, however, directors were unaware that state statute required a two-thirds majority to enact the measure. Director Tracy Pennartz, who had originally been a no-vote because of concerns regarding new police equipment, changed her vote to move the measure forward.
The board also approved a final vote on franchise fees on some city utilities that will raise another $550,000 for the city budget.
The measures came with a warning from City Finance Director Jennifer Walker that if they were not passed, cuts to the city’s operating budget would have to be made.