Arkansas Constitution of 1874 Amendment 62, § 9. Joint project of various governing bodies--Compact agreement elections

(a) Whenever two or more cities of the First or Second Class, or incorporated towns, and/or one or more counties and the school districts therein, desire to join together in a combined effort to secure and develop economic development projects within one or more of such cities, towns, counties, and share in the increased revenues estimated to be received by the city, town, or county, or school district, in which the economic development project or projects are to be located, they may, upon adoption by the governing bodies of each such city, town, school district, or county, enter into a compact setting forth the terms by which each of the participating cities, towns, school districts, and counties is to share in the revenues to be derived from the location of an economic development project within the compact area through the combined efforts of the various participating cities, towns, school districts, and counties.  Upon adoption of such compact by the governing bodies of the participating cities, towns, school districts, and/or counties, the county court of each of the counties involved shall cause a special election to be called within not more than forty-five (45) days from the date of the filing of such compact with the county court.  At such special election, the qualified electors of each of the cities, towns, school districts, and counties shall vote on whether to approve the compact and the method of sharing in increased revenues to be derived by the city, school district, and/or county in which the proposed economic development project is to be located among the various participating cities, towns, counties, and school districts.  The ballot at such election shall be in substantially the following form:

“FOR the establishment of an economic development compact and the sharing of revenues to be derived from additional taxes to be generated by new economic development projects ___

AGAINST the establishment of an economic development compact and the sharing of revenues to be derived from additional taxes to be generated by new economic development projects ___”

Said election shall be conducted in accordance with the election laws of this State, and the results thereof tabulated and certified to the County Clerk in the manner now provided by law.  If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the question vote in favor of the creation of the compact, and the sharing of revenues to be derived from new economic development projects located in the compact area, the said compact shall be implemented in accordance with the terms thereof.  If a majority of the qualified electors voting on said issue vote against issue at said special election, no additional election on said issue may be held within one (1) year from the date of said election.  The results of said election shall be proclaimed by the county court of each of the counties in which the county and/or cities and towns, or school districts, are located.  The results of said election shall be conclusive unless attacked in the courts within thirty (30) days.

(b) As used in this section:

(c) The General Assembly, by a three-fourths vote of each house, may amend the provisions of subsection (b) of this section so long as the amendments are germane to this section and consistent with its policy and purposes.