Arkansas Voters Reject Highway Bond Measure

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rkansas voters on Tuesday rejected a plan to let the state Highway Commission take on $575 million in near-perpetual debt without formal input from the public, the Associated Press reported.

The highway bond proposal — backed by Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) but opposed by the Arkansas Trucking Association — would have allowed the commission to issue bonds at any time for interstate road repair, as long as the total amount of debt at one time didn't exceed $575 million.

With 2,118 of 2,138 precincts reporting complete but unofficial results, the vote was 60% against and 40% for the bond measure, AP reported. Turnout was light, with about 7% of the state’s voters taking part in the election.

pponents, including the trucking association, had cited a provision of the state’s constitution requiring a vote of the people before the state may issue bonds, AP said.

State officials said they would first issue bonds in 2010, although the date wasn't in the text of the resolution.