COVER


White River bridge, Des Arc, Ar. pitching in to make it work


I’m proud of my county and proud of our people. Our daily challenge is to gener- ate enough money to operate sheriff’s office, road department and county general.


— Mike Skarda Prairie County Judge


Prairie County Judge Mike Skarda (left) checks in on Prairie County Northern District Road Fore- man Billy Don Johnson as he works on one of the county’s trucks in the county shop in Des Arc.


agriculture land,” Skarda said. “Every day is a challenge for all of the of- ficials to maintain their offices and do the things that need to be done for the citizens of Prairie County.” Skarda said the dynamic of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service


purchasing more land in Prairie County has potential negative implica- tions on the county’s financial ability to provide for its constituency. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services already own about 11,000 acres in Prai- rie County. It is proposing to attempt to buy another 7,399 acres from private individuals and/or companies. “U.S. Fish and Wildlife only pay 3/4th of one percent on appraised


land,” Skarda explained. “On average the county generates $39 per acre in taxes from non-exempt entities and only about $7 per acre from conser- vation districts or exempt entities.” He estimates a net loss if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services pur- chase the proposed 7,399 acres of more than $230,000 per year in county revenues.


COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2013


Arkansas Constitution, Article 16, § 5 (b) includes “public property used exclusive- ly for public purposes” as tax exempt. While Arkansas Code Annotated 26-3-301 (4) describes tax exempt property as “all prop- erty, whether real or personal, belonging exclusively to this state, including property of state agencies, institutions, boards, or commissions, or the United States ...” Skarda has lobbied and sent letters to his Congressional representatives for these entities to pay “their fair share” in


taxes so as to not have such a negative impact on counties. In 2011, Prairie County was ravaged by massive flooding of the White River. Flood stage begins at 24 feet on the White River; it reached 39.8 feet during that natural disaster. Many neighborhoods have not been reoccupied since the flood and some only have temporary housing in place of where homes once stood. “A woman came up to me who had literally just lost every thing she had to the flood waters,” Skarda recalled. “I didn’t know what to do but hug on her and search for what to say.” Skarda said he was proud of all the county employees and volun- teers during the recovery of the 2011 flood and said “nobody here is doing this job for the money.” Justice of the Peace and Budget Committee Chair Lawrence Hol- loway shared some of his observations on the county’s financial woes


“Prairie County” Continued to Page 30 >>> 29


STORY


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