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March Election Results Will Determine When Full Marshals Museum Will Open

FORT SMITH (AP) — The planned opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith could be pushed back depending on next month’s election to help fund the m...
Marshals Museum Construction

FORT SMITH (AP) — The planned opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith could be pushed back depending on next month’s election to help fund the museum with tax dollars.

The facility was set to open this fall. But museum president Patrick Weeks says officials couldn’t plan for the opening without knowing the results of next month’s special election in Fort Smith, when voters will consider a temporary sales tax increase to support the museum.

The special election on the nine-month tax is March 12. If approved, it’s expected to generate about $15.5 million.

Weeks says the museum will still be dedicated Sept. 24, which coincides with the 230th anniversary of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Museum officials have estimated that the museum will have an annual economic impact of $15 million to $22 million once it’s open.

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