By Dave Woods
NWA Democrat-Gazette
When Travis
Stephens accepted
the job of economic
development director
for the City of Bella
Vista, he knew there
were going to be
challenges.
"Bella Vista was
never intended to
be a city," he said.
"Sales tax was never
a concern when developers platted the
city. ey were funded through property
assessments. We have now been a city for 11
years and the city's revenue is from a much
di erent stream than the original property
owners association."
Many people don't necessary understand
where the tax dollars that support city
services go and what they support.
" e vast of majority of our city revenue
is from sales taxes," he pointed out. " e
other part of it is from property taxes, but
almost 80 percent of all property taxes go to
schools. e remaining 20 percent is divided
W
Bella Vista
Business
Association
'High on
Bella
Vista's
future'
City economic
development director
working to recruit, retain
restaurants, retailers,
grow sales tax base
34 – 2018 Bella Vista Business Association Directory
