Baxter County Friends of the Taxpayers

• BCFT is a grassroots organization formed to address tax issues, civic issues and voters' rights, which impact citizens and businesses in our local area.

• We are non-profit, non-partisan, and not affiliated with any churches, private businesses, or any other organizations. We are simply concerned Baxter County citizens.

• Our publications and web site strive to present pertinent information that will enlighten the citizens of Baxter County about various issues and their implications. The objective is to evaluate each issue based on its economic, social, or educational benefits in perspective to the proposed financial obligation.

• BCFT does not solicit advertisements for our publications or web site. We feel this is necessary to ensure an unbiased opinion on the many subjects that we address.

BCFT By-Laws

(as amended & approved October 28, 2006)

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of the organization will be the Baxter County Friends of the Taxpayers (BCFT).

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

BCFT’s purpose is to address tax issues, civic issues and voters' rights, which impact citizens and businesses throughout Baxter County.  This will be achieved by:

(a)  Advocating the application of principals of good government administration.

(b)  Focusing public attention on public expenditures.

(c)  Monitoring public expenditures to eliminate waste, inefficiency, and duplication.

(d)  Investigating current and proposed sources of government revenue in order to recommend the most equitable, efficient and economical means of taxation.

(e)  Informing citizens about their government, adhering at all times to facts, without prejudice, partisanship, or politics.

(f)  Stimulating citizen action for better government.

BCFT is a grassroots organization that is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and not affiliated with any churches, private businesses, or any other organizations.  BCFT does not contribute money to political parties or candidates, and does not have a political action committee.  We are simply concerned Baxter County citizens.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Any citizen 18 or more years of age will be eligible for membership, subject to the provisions of Article V, and to approval by the officers in their absolute discretion.

Section 2 - Application for membership will be made by an application blank provided by BCFT.  The application must be accompanied by the annual dues and should be mailed to the address on the form or turned over to the Treasurer.

ARTICLE IV – TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

Membership may be terminated:

(a) For nonpayment of dues.

(b) By resignation, in writing, addressed and delivered to the Director or the Secretary.  The person resigning will forfeit all right or claim of any nature whatsoever to, or against, the BCFT, its funds or officers.

(c) By resolution approved by a simple majority of the members present at any monthly meeting as long as a quorum is present.  Such resolution must show cause, will be final, and there will be no appeal.  The person affected will be entitled to the return of a proportion of any annual dues paid for the current fiscal year, after deducting therefrom all monies owed to BCFT, and the person affected will have no recourse against BCFT, its funds, or its officers.

 ARTICLE V – DISQUALIFICATION FOR COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP
OR OFFICE

No holder of any partisan elective office will be a BCFT officer or hold any committee chairmanship, and any such position held in the BCFT will immediately become vacated upon such candidacy, incumbency, or employment.

ARTICLE VI – DUES

Section 1 - The annual dues for the following year will be set at the December meeting by the members in attendance, assuming a quorum is present; these dues will be payable by each member annually by April 1^st.  Members joining after July 1^st are assessed one half of the current year’s dues.

Section 2 - There will be no assessments over and above the annual dues.

ARTICLE VII – OFFICERS

Section 1 – BCFT’s elective officers will be: Director, Assistant Director, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2 – BCFT’s elective officers will be elected by ballot by the membership at the January meeting each year, to serve until their successors are elected.

Section 3 - The Director will be BCFT’s chief executive officer and will perform all the acts and duties usually incident to such office, including the duty of presiding at all meetings of the members.

Section 4 - The Assistant Director will have the power and authority to perform all the functions and duties of the Director, in the Director’s absence or disability.  The Assistant Director performs other duties assigned by the Director.

Section 5 - The Secretary will keep the minutes of all BCFT meetings.  In general, the Secretary performs all duties incident to the office of Secretary, and other duties assigned by the Director.

Section 6 - The Treasurer will have custody of all BCFT funds and securities, and will keep full and accurate written accounts of all receipts and disbursements.  The Treasurer collects all monies due BCFT, giving receipts in BCFT's name. The Treasurer endorses for collection checks and other obligations, and will deposit the same and other funds in the name of BCFT in such bank or banks as the Director will designate.  The Treasurer makes all payments by check, signed by either the Director, or the Treasurer, of any and all bills or obligations incurred by BCFT or by any and all committees.  The Treasurer makes an annual report of all funds received and disbursed, and will also make a monthly report to the membership at their regular meetings.  In general, the Treasurer performs all duties incident to the office of Treasurer, and other duties assigned by the Director.

ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS

Section 1 - An annual meeting of the membership, with election of officers, will be held at the same time as the regular January meeting.

Section 2 - Other meetings of the entire membership may, from time-to-time, be called by the Director.  Upon written request of ten percent of the membership, the Director will call a special meeting.

Section 3 - The place, date, and time of the meetings of the membership will be set by the Director.

Section 4 - The membership will be given at least five days prior notice of any meeting via e-mail (preferred), regular mail or telephone.

Section 5 – Fifty percent (50%) of paid-up members in good standing will constitute a quorum, including either the Director or the Assistant Director and either the Secretary or the Treasurer.

Section 6 - Each member will be entitled to one vote if present in person.  Voting will be by voice vote, or a show of hands, or by secret ballot if requested by any member in good standing present at the meeting.  There will be no proxies.

ARTICLE IX – RULES OF ORDER

All BCFT proceedings will be conducted under, and pursuant to, Roberts' Revised Rules of Order, except as otherwise provided within the by-laws.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - These by-laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the membership by a vote of a majority of the members present, provided that written notice of the meeting and the proposed amendment, and a copy thereof, will have been given to all members in good standing at least five days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 2 - Promptly after their enactment, the Secretary will make by-law changes known to the membership through notification on the BCFT website, or via USPS.

ARTICLE XI – MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1 – BCFT’s fiscal year will end on December 31^st each year.

Section 2 – The secretary will provide a copy of the by-laws to each member in good standing upon request.

Section 3 - The rights and interests of a member in the privileges of BCFT will terminate upon termination of membership.  All persons who have been admitted to membership will be deemed to have assented to be bound by the BCFT by-laws and rules and regulations, any rulings, or decisions properly made.

By-laws as amended through October 28, 2006.

Mayor Ed House's Views on BCFT

(January 2, 2006)

Mayor Ed House recently released A Comprehensive Overview of the City of Mountain Home, Arkansas, a 71-page document which "attempts to detail and identify the general function of the City of Mountain Home from 1997 to 2006" (quote from the Executive Summary on Page 1).

Most of the document deals with the responsibilities of elected officials, the administration of city departments, the history of the town and the many accomplishments that have been recorded over the past several years.

On Page 33 -- between "The 62/412 Bypass: To Annex or Not Annex" on Page 32, and "Volunteerism in Mountain Home" on Page 34 -- is the Mayor's opinion of BCFT: