Voting is one of the greatest privileges we have as Americans. Not only does
this cherished right give us the chance to voice our opinion as a society, it
provides a tremendous opportunity to produce a more economically viable
Arkansas.

One way to guarantee a brighter future for Arkansas is to vote FOR Referred
Question 1; better known as the Arkansas Higher Education Technology and
Facility Improvement Act.

Act 1 is not a new tax, and will not raise taxes. It will authorize the state
to issue up to $250 million in bonds for Arkansas’ higher educational
institutions, allowing them to be able to finance facility and technology
improvements, as well as be more competitive with the colleges and universities
in surrounding states.

In Southeast Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Monticello is the
educational and economic hub of the region. With a record enrollment of
students (3,179) registered this fall, UAM relies heavily on the issuance of
bonds and private donations for capital expenditures.

Act 1 will provide UAM $4.1 million to be used to:
• endow the campus with high-speed information transfer technology as one of
10 statewide e-corridor connections
• provide data network upgrades university-wide to replace the 22-year old
administrative software
• install advanced technology and communication support for the campuses in
Monticello, McGehee and Crossett

The Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition, Inc., a regional non-profit
economic development organization, supports Act 1 and encourages Arkansans to
vote on November 7. Your support will not only benefit today’s students, but
will help to assure a successful future for Arkansas.

Jo Anne Smith
Executive Director
Southeast Arkansas Cornerstone Coalition, Inc.
Monticello, Arkansas