Our View

Our View

Bass’s fit-pitching over school district lines is nothing new

Once again, Crittenden County Quorum Court Justice Hubert Bass has shown his ignorance in a feeble attempt to sabotage passage of the 2017 millage rate as his protest over the way the West Memphis–Marion school district boundaries are drawn.

With total disregard over the fact that delaying passage of the millage rate by December could have resulted in the county unable to collect any tax money to fund the government, Bass was quoted as saying, It’s a protest vote to force them, (school officials), to the table and make them discuss this.”

Bass is known for this type of shenanigans which only makes him an embarrassment among not only his peers but those constituents he supposedly represents.

You see, Bass has been vocal in the past about changing the district boundary lines that were drawn over 60 years ago because it is his belief that the Marion School District takes in a portion of West Memphis, specifically areas north of Dover Road.

What Bass either can’t comprehend or chooses to ignore, is the plain and simple fact that any formal decision in this regard must be addressed by the Arkansas Department of Education. Furthermore, let us make it very clear to Mr. Bass that Arkansas school district boundaries, of which there are 341, are not always aligned with county or city boundaries; a district can occupy several counties and cities, while a single city (especially larger ones such as little Rock, Fort Smith, or Jonesboro) may be split between several districts.

Bass is of the belief West Memphis is losing between $3 and $6 million dollars of property taxes to Marion School District and, by golly, he simply thinks this is just not right.

So, the question we have for Mr. Bass is what good does he think throwing a monkey wrench into the county tax collection process is going to do other than totally disrupt providing county services to the citizens of Crittenden County?

Oh, but Mr. Bass says he has done his research in this matter and nowhere can he find an ordinance or any written account that would substantiate why the district lines were drawn the way they are today.

Well then, based on all this supposed in-depth research Mr. Bass is of the opinion that all this money going to Marion should be going to West Memphis and that is that.

The brilliance on this quorum court resulted in a postponement in passing the millage rates and a call to West Memphis Superintendent Jon Collins to appear before justices to explain the situation.

As pretty much expected, Collins declined the invitation leaving the county in jeopardy of not funding county services.

Fortunately, Judge Woody Wheeless called a special quorum court meeting at which time all but Bass rightfully passed the millage rate thereby avoiding any governmental crisis that would have been caused by this crusader politician.

It might be suggested that Mr. Bass stick to the county business at hand and not wonder in a direction he has no business going, such as sticking his nose in what the Arkansas Department of Education deals with.