On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in the Primary Election, residents in the city limits will be asked to cast their vote for or against removing the sunset clause in the extension of a sales tax that has been in place for decades.
There are two separate taxes on the ballot. One is a 0.50% percent (half-percent) infrastructure tax originally approved by voters in 1994, and the other is a 0.25% (quarter-percent) tax approved in 2002, which is divided between police, fire, and general funds. Both taxes included sunset clauses that require renewal every eight years. Both have always been approved by voters every eight years. Harrison still has the lowest sales tax rate of any city our size in the state.
They support infrastructure, police, fire, and general services to address ongoing needs that will always exist. In my opinion, these taxes should never have included sunset provisions.
Sunset clauses are appropriate for projects that have a defined endpoint, such as the 0.25% tax used to build Creekside, which will expire once the project is fully paid off. Infrastructure and public safety, however, are permanent necessities, and the funding mechanisms for them should reflect that reality.
This is not a tax increase. We want voters to be fully informed before casting their ballot. Please take the time to review the department reports as they are released, ask questions, and engage in the process. If you need clarification, my office and our department heads are always available. This decision affects the future of Harrison, and your understanding matters.
From Police Chief Chris Graddy
The Police Department utilizes its portion of these funds to maintain and replace its vehicle fleet, equip officers with essential safety tools, and provide necessary equipment, including firearms, protective vests, and other safety gear. The funds also support ongoing training, which is crucial for maintaining professional standards and ensuring the safety of officers and the public.
Additionally, this funding helps cover the cost of electronic equipment and other operational expenses, enabling the department to deliver modern and effective law enforcement services to the Harrison community.
From Fire Chief Marc Lowery
The 0.25% percent (quarter-percent) general fund tax is used for the Harrison Police, Fire, and General Fund, which is split three ways. Without it, the fire department would lose approximately $430,000 per year. To absorb this type of decrease in funding in a department where approximately 80% of the budget is personnel and benefits, it would leave no option but to reduce positions. This, in turn, would reduce the ability to respond to emergencies with adequate personnel to resolve the incident and limit our ability to assist other surrounding agencies during various emergencies that may occur in their districts.
As of December 19, 2025, the Harrison Fire/Rescue/EMS Department has responded to 3,256 calls for the year. Seventy percent of these calls are EMS/auto crash/rescue calls, with 27% being “other” type calls (fire alarms, severe weather, lift assists without injury, vehicle/home unlocks, power lines down, hazmat calls, etc.). The remaining 3% are actual fires (such as cars, structures, and grass). That still equates to 89 fire calls in the city and outside the city.
It is worth noting that of those 3,256 calls, we have responded approximately 120 times out of the city to various incidents (structure fires, car fires, MVAs, hike outs, high-angle rescues, swift water rescues, etc.)
From COO/ City Engineer Wade Phillips
The City’s 0.50% percent (half-percent) Infrastructure Tax provides funding for local projects to improve and maintain streets, water and sewer systems, drainage, and other critical infrastructure that supports daily life and economic activity within the community. Projects made possible by the Infrastructure Tax that are currently under construction or recently completed include the Capps Road Sidewalk, Goblin Drive Phases 1 and 2 (including the new bridge on Goblin), approximately 20 lane miles of asphalt overlay, and thousands of feet of water and sewer line rehabilitation and replacement.
Upcoming projects funded by the infrastructure tax in 2026 include approximately $2 million in street overlays, water and sewer line replacements, and upgrades along the Highway 65 corridor, and upgrades to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant Headworks.
The Infrastructure Tax has also opened the door to partnerships with ARDOT to improve the street and highway networks within the City, including numerous intersection signal upgrades along Main Street and Highway 65, upcoming improvements to the intersection of Highway 65 and Hester Drive, a new traffic signal at Airport Road and Highway 65, and the widening of Highway 65.
From CFO Luke Feichert
The proceeds of the 0.25% percent (quarter-percent) sales tax are divided among the Police Department, Fire Department, and the City’s General Fund. The General Fund portion is used for a wide range of essential city functions, including, but not limited to, planning commission operations, park maintenance, safety equipment and training for city departments, maintenance and replacement of city vehicles and equipment, and support for financial and administrative operations.
In closing, this information from our department heads is intended to help voters understand the proposed measure and the current uses of the sales tax revenue. The City does not advocate for or against the proposal. The decision rests with the voters.
Jerry Jackson moved to the community in 1980 and was voted Mayor in 2018. He ran and won re-election in 2022. Email info@harrisonar.gov to contact the mayor’s office.