The group Arkansans for Clean Water is leading the effort to convince voters at the November election to authorize the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission to issue $300 million of bonds.
The bond measure was put on the general election ballot by the Legislature in 2007. The commission can issue no more than $60 million of the bonds during any two-year budget cycle unless lawmakers approve a larger issue. No more than $100 million of the total proceeds could be allocated to irrigation projects.
A recent survey by the commission found more than $1 billion of needed water and wastewater projects in the state.
The state will use the bond proceeds to make low-interest loans and grants to local governments for water and sewer projects. Without the money, proponents said, Arkansas would lose $14 million to $20 million of federal matching grants.
Arkansas voters approved $300 million of state water and sewer bonds in 1998.