On Nov. 7, you can have a lasting impact on future generations of Arkansas college students by voting FOR Referred Question One, known more commonly as Act 1: The Higher Education Technology and Facility Improvement Act.
This Act will generate $250 million in funding for higher education to help colleges and universities meet pressing facility and technology needs. For the University of Arkansas at Monticello, it means $4.1 million to replace outdated technology infrastructure and to participate in the E-Corridor high-speed fiber-optic network.

   Why do we need Act 1?

   There have been limited capital funds from the state for higher education since 1991. Currently, there is no continuing source of public funding for academic facility renovation or technology improvements. The only two means for funding are tuition-backed revenue bonds or private gifts. As our colleges and universities experience record growth (UAM’s enrollment hit an all-time high of 3,179 this fall), any new capital expenditures have had to come from the issuance of bonds or private donations.

   These bonds are critical for Arkansas’ college students. They provide a means to fund necessary improvements on our campuses while keeping a quality education affordable for students.

   Act 1 is NOT a new tax. Of the $250 million in funds to be raised by this initiative, $100 million will be used to restructure the state’s current bonded debt with the remaining $150 million to go to the state’s colleges and universities.

   Act 1 is good for Arkansas’ colleges and universities, it’s good for UAM and it’s good for the young people of our state. I urge you to vote on November and I join our students in asking you to vote for Referred Question 1.
 

   Americans should be confident that their vote will be counted whether they touch a screen or fill in an oval. The integrity of the system is not in hands of hackers, professors, interest groups or politicians in Washington, it is managed by local election officials as it always has been. No one should be intimidated by the hype over hacking. Vote on November 7. You can count on it.