(a)
(1) State of Arkansas Federal Highway Grant Anticipation and Tax Revenue Bonds shall not be issued under this subchapter unless the levy of the additional tax on distillate special fuel under § 26-56-802 and the authority of the State Highway Commission to issue the bonds from time to time are approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the state voting on the question at a statewide election called by proclamation of the Governor.
(2) The election may be in conjunction with a general election, or it may be a special election.
(b)
(1) Notice of the election shall be:
(A) Published by the Secretary of State in a newspaper of general circulation in the state at least thirty (30) days prior to the election; and
(B) Mailed to each county board of election commissioners and the sheriff of each county at least sixty (60) days prior to the election.
(2) The notice of election shall state that the election is to be held for the purpose of submitting to the people the following proposition in substantially the following form:
(c) The ballot title shall be “Issuance of State of Arkansas Federal Highway Grant Anticipation and Tax Revenue Bonds and pledge of full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas, and the levy of an additional five cent per gallon tax on distillate special fuel (diesel)”. On each ballot there shall be printed the title, the proposition set forth in subdivision (b)(2) of this section, and the following:
(d)
(1) Each county board of election commissioners shall hold and conduct the election and may take any action with respect to the appointment of election officials and other matters as required by the laws of the state.
(2)
(A) The vote shall be canvassed, and the result of the vote declared in each county by the board.
(B) Within ten (10) days after the date of the election, the results shall be certified by the boards to the Secretary of State, who shall tabulate all returns received and certify to the Governor the total vote for and against the proposition submitted pursuant to this subchapter.
(e)
(1) The result of the election shall be proclaimed by the Governor by the publication of the proclamation one (1) time in a newspaper of general circulation in the State of Arkansas.
(2) The results as proclaimed shall be conclusive unless a complaint is filed within thirty (30) days after the date of the publication in Pulaski County Circuit Court challenging the results.
(f)
(1) If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition, then the commission may issue bonds from time to time in the manner and on the terms set forth in this subchapter.
(2) If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition vote against the proposition, the commission shall have no authority to issue bonds.
“Authorizing the State Highway Commission to issue State of Arkansas Federal Highway Grant Anticipation and Tax Revenue Bonds (the ‘Bonds’) if the total principal amount outstanding from the issuance of the bonds, together with the total principal amount outstanding from the issuance of bonds pursuant to the Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 1999, § 27-64-201 et seq., the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2005, § 27-64-301 et seq., and the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2007, § 27-64-401 et seq. shall not, at any time, exceed one billion one hundred million dollars ($1,100,000,000). If approved, the bonds will be issued in several series of various principal amounts from time to time, with the last series being issued no later than December 31, 2017, for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing and renovating improvements to the Interstate Highway System and related facilities in the State of Arkansas and improvements to other routes on the National Highway System and related facilities in the State of Arkansas.
“The bonds shall be general obligations of the State of Arkansas, payable from certain designated revenues including particularly and without limitation a new tax described below, and also secured by the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas, including its general revenues.
“Under the Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 2011 (the ‘Bond Act’), the bonds will be repaid first from: (1) revenues derived from federal highway assistance funding allocated to the State of Arkansas; (2) revenues derived from the excise tax levied on distillate special fuel (diesel) pursuant to Arkansas Code § 26-56-201(e) that are available for expenditure after any distributions required by the Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 1999, the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2005, and the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2007; and (3) revenues derived from a new excise tax levied on distillate special fuel (diesel) pursuant to Arkansas Code § 26-56-802 at the rate of five cents (5¢) per gallon if the measure is approved. To the extent that designated revenues are insufficient to make timely payment of debt service on the bonds, the payment shall be made from the general revenues of the State of Arkansas. The bonds shall be issued pursuant to the authority of and the terms set forth in the Bond Act.
“Under the Bond Act, the highway improvements to be financed are limited to the restoration and improvements to the Interstate Highway System and of other routes on the National Highway System within the state, including roadways, bridges, or rights-of-way under jurisdiction of the State Highway Commission, which shall also include the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, and renovation of the Interstate Highway System and of other routes on the National Highway System and facilities appurtenant or pertaining thereto.
“Under Arkansas Code § 26-56-802, there is levied, subject to approval of this measure, a new excise tax levied on distillate special fuel (diesel) at the rate of five cents (5¢) per gallon. This tax shall not be levied unless this measure is approved by the voters.
“Under the Bond Act, ‘designated revenues’ are defined as: (1) the portion designated by the commission of funds received or to be received from the federal government of the United States as federal highway assistance funding allocated to the state; (2) revenues derived from the excise tax levied on distillate special fuel (diesel) pursuant to Arkansas Code § 26-56-201(e) that are available for expenditure after any distributions required by the Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 1999, the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2005, and the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2007; and (3) revenues derived from the excise tax levied on distillate special fuel (diesel) pursuant to Arkansas Code § 26-56-802, which is a new five-cent-per-gallon tax to be levied upon the approval of this measure. The bonds are further secured by the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas, and to the extent ‘designated revenues’ are insufficient to make timely payment of debt service on the bonds, the general revenues of the state shall be used to pay debt service on the bonds.”
“FOR authorizing the State Highway Commission to issue State of Arkansas Federal Highway Grant Anticipation and Tax Revenue Bonds provided that the total principal amount outstanding from the issuance of the bonds, together with the total principal amount outstanding from the issuance of bonds pursuant to Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 1999, the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2005, and the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2007, shall not, at any time, exceed one billion one hundred million dollars ($1,100,000,000); such bonds to be issued in one or more series of various principal amounts with the last series being issued no later than December 31, 2017, and the pledge of the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas to further secure the bonds, and the levy of an additional five cent per gallon excise tax on distillate special fuel (diesel) to pay, as described above, along with other ‘designated revenues,’ as defined in the Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 2011, debt service on bonds
“AGAINST authorizing the State Highway Commission to issue State of Arkansas Federal Highway Grant Anticipation and Tax Revenue Bonds provided that the total principal amount outstanding from the issuance of the bonds, together with the total principal amount outstanding from the issuance of bonds pursuant to Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 1999, the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2005, and the Arkansas Interstate Highway Financing Act of 2007, shall not, at any time, exceed one billion one hundred million dollars ($1,100,000,000); such bonds to be issued in one or more series of various principal amounts with the last series being issued no later than December 31, 2017, and the pledge of the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas to further secure the bonds, and the levy of an additional five cent per gallon excise tax on distillate special fuel (diesel) to pay, as described above, along with other ‘designated revenues,’ as defined in the Arkansas Highway Financing Act of 2011, debt service on bonds