Cotter Government and Services

Cotter has a mayor/council form of government with six council members elected from wards. They serve on a paid basis. Two city police officers serve the town and one school resource officer. The fire department consists of 18 volunteer firefighters. The town's fire rating is a Class 5.

Utilities

Water and Sewer Service

For information about the Cotter Water Department, please call Peggy at 870-435-6325

Water rates in Cotter for residents and small businesses (5/8" meters & over) are:

• First 1,000 gallons $12.00
  
• 2,000 gal., $15.50
  
• 3,000 gal., $19.00 
  
• 4,000 gal., $22.50 
  
• 5,000 gal., $26.00 
  
• Each additional 1000 gal., $3.50

Minimum water rates are as follows: 

• All fees are based on 5/8" & 1000 gal. usage.

Cotter can pump 500,000 gallons of water per day (GPD), and they are using approximately 144,000 GPD. Water storage capacity is 625,000 gallons.

Sewer rates are $4.55 for the first 1,000 gallons of city water used and $4.09 for each additional 1,000.

Cotter's sewer capacity is 500,000 GPD; there is now a 230,000 GPD surplus.

For further information about the Cotter Water Department, call Peggy at 870-435-6325.

Electric
Entergy Corp. provides electric service in Cotter with 161,000 volts. The city primary voltage is 13,800. Available voltages are 110, 240, and 440. Contact: Mike Ragland 800-368-3749.

Natural Gas
Natural gas is available through Arkansas Western Gas Company with a heat value of 952 BTU. Call Arkansas Western Gas at  870-425-5445.

Trash
Trash pickup service is provided to customers by the company which receives the bid for city trash pickup - $7.92 per month. For more information, call the Cotter City Hall, 870-435-6325.

Cable Television Service
Suddenlink. Contact 870-425-3161.

Telephone Service
Telephone service for Cotter is provided by Yelcot Telephone Company, 870-435-6111.

ISO Fire Rating
Cotter has a fire insurance rating of 5 from the Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the best rating. Factors considered in the rating are numerous but include the community's fire services, such as water supply, storage capacity and flow, fire alarms, communications system, fire companies and their locations, and testing procedures. Residents may find out from their insurance companies exactly what dollar amount the ISO rating translates into.

City Fees and Taxes
Occupational License fees are based on the number of employees working for a person, firm, or corporation.

• 1-2 employees = $25.00
  
• 21+ employees = $150.00

Sales tax rates are 6.00% for the State of Arkansas, 1% for Baxter County, and 2% for Cotter for a total of 9.00% in the city.

Tax Rates: Income, Real and Personal