the Ballot initiative

On the November 2026 ballot, Arkansas voters will decide whether to authorize a general obligation (GO) bond program to fund water and wastewater infrastructure improvements across the state. This page explains what the measure would do, how it would be paid for and the safeguards built into it.

What You’ll See on the Ballot

“Shall the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission be authorized to issue general obligation bonds under the authority of the Arkansas Water, Waste Disposal, and Pollution Abatement Facilities Financing Act of 2025, for the financing and refinancing of the development of water, waste disposal, water pollution control, abatement and prevention, drainage, irrigation, flood control, and wetlands and aquatic resources projects to serve the citizens of the State of Arkansas, in total principal amount not to exceed five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000), with no more than one hundred sixty-five million dollars ($165,000,000) in total principal amount of such bonds to be issued to finance and refinance the development of irrigation facilities, in series from time to time in principal amounts not to exceed, without prior approval of the General Assembly, sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) in any two-year period beginning on July 1 of each odd-numbered year, which bonds shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State of Arkansas?”

Read the full official ballot title

What the Measure Would Do

The measure would authorize up to $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance loans and grants for local water and wastewater projects. Funds would support:

  • Repairing and replacing aging pipes, treatment plants and storage.
  • Reducing water loss and improving reliability.
  • Meeting clean-water and wastewater compliance requirements.
  • Supporting agricultural irrigation infrastructure (up to $165 million of the total).

 

Projects are funded through the state’s established revolving loan and grant framework, so dollars are recycled back into future projects as loans are repaid.

How It’s Paid For, and the Safeguards

  • No new taxes. The bonds are repaid within existing state resources.
  • A firm ceiling. The program is capped at $500 million total.
  • A steady, controlled pace. Issuance is limited to about $60 million per biennium, so the state doesn’t take on debt faster than it can manage.
  • Strong credit. Backed by the state’s AA+ bond rating, meaning lower borrowing costs.
  • Multiple layers of oversight. Projects are reviewed and administered with established accountability controls.

Why the Investment Is Needed

Arkansas’s water systems are aging, and needs far exceed current funding. Recent assessments found:

  • 4% of treated water lost to leaks before reaching customers.
  • 1 in 5 Arkansans experienced a service disruption in the past year.
  • 5% of communities face rising water bills.
  • 63% of assessed wastewater systems had compliance violations.
  • Much of the infrastructure is more than 30 years old.

 

Water is also foundational to Arkansas agriculture — a roughly $25.6 billion industry — where reliable irrigation is essential.

What It Funds Across Arkansas

The program supports projects in communities of every size — rural systems, growing cities, and agricultural regions. Examples of the kinds of projects the program supports include water supply, treatment, storage and irrigation improvements statewide.

A Proven Program

Arkansas has used this financing approach to fund water infrastructure for decades. The measure would renew and extend that proven, accountable framework — not create an untested one.