2024 AGC Arkansas Voter Guide

• By: admin
• On: 10/28/2024 20:11:18
• In: Legislative News

With the November 5 Election Day fast-approaching, early voting is underway.  There are two proposed Constitutional amendments on the ballot.  
 
We urge you to vote FOR Issue 1.
Issue 1 will allow funding from the state's lottery ticket sales to provide scholarships to vocational-technical schools and technical institutions.  (Right now, that funding can only go toward scholarships at two-and four-year colleges and universities.)  Passing Issue 1will give more Arkansans access to training for jobs in skilled trades and crafts – jobs that are vital to our industry.  
 
We urge you to vote AGAINST Issue 2.
In 2018, Arkansas Voters approved Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution, allowing the state to issue four casino licenses – in Crittenden, Garland, Jefferson, and Pope Counties.  Casinos now operate in all of those except Pope County.  After years of the issue tied up in court, the Arkansas Racing Commission in June issued the Pope County casino license to Cherokee Nation Entertainment. 
 
The group has invested millions of dollars on the shovel-ready project, including purchase of 325 acres of land northeast of Russellville, with plans for a 50,000-square foot casino, 200-room hotel, and a 15,000 square-foot event space.  This investment will create thousands of jobs, including many in our industry, and will bring millions of dollars of tax revenue into the state every year.  Not only will it spur growth in the region, it will generate additional funding specifically marked for building and improving our state's roads and bridges.  Approving Issue 2 would not only wipe out all of that investment, it would do away with more than 1,000 construction jobs planned for the project over the next two years.