Arkansas (Fort Smith) - Fort Smith voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected a 1 percent prepared-food tax that would have provided an estimated $1.8 million annually to fund operation of the Fort Smith Convention Center. With about 22 percent of registered voters in Fort Smith participating in the election, 62.7 percent voted no and 37.3 percent yes, 5,612 to 3,339, according to unofficial election results. The board voted 4-3 in February to levy the tax by ordinance to make up a funding shortfall expected to occur in the operation of the Fort Smith Convention Center sometime in early 2012. A program that provided state tourism turnback funds used to finance operation of the center — and make further capital improvements — ended in 2010. 
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