What They Could Do Instead of Raising Taxes — How Cities Can Thrive Today

Ten percent.

That’s all it takes.

This weekend, a record setting 500,000 people attended the Arkansas State Fair.

It was two years in the making, thanks to Covid.

A pent up rush to spend millions in the city of Little Rock.

I don’t know what the city and state get from the Fair, but this once a year affair brought a lot of people into the city limits and by all accounts, worked wonders.

Blame the marketing team, which did a great job, and will win the contract again next year.

Blame people who wanted to get out on an amazing weekend with no humidity and decent temperatures.

No matter who gets the blame, it was a win for Little Rock.

A win we’ve needed for a long time.

Because 500,000 people coming for a weekend visit bring their tax dollars to a place in need.

And it also brings a lesson city leaders need to memorize and learn from and encourage.

What lesson?

People want to party. They want something to do with their children. They want safe fun and are willing to spend a little of their money doing it.