Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The Jonesboro City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved two ordinances involving the proposed public safety tax set to appear on the November ballot.
The first ordinance levied a city-wide 5/8-cent sales tax to be used for public safety initiatives. The ordinance notes that the tax levy does not take effect unless a majority of voters approve the measure in an election.
The tax, if approved, will be used to fund “public safety services, initiatives, facilities, infrastructure, maintenance and operations.” The Jonesboro City Council would appropriate the revenue, but state law would limit the funds to public safety purposes.
Safety First for Jonesboro, a ballot committee comprised of police, fire and dispatch representatives, have previously said the tax revenue would be dedicated exclusively to Jonesboro’s police, fire and E-911 dispatch services.
The money would help fund construction of a new police station, new fire stations and the hiring of additional police officers, firefighters and dispatchers.
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The second ordinance calls for a special election on Nov. 3 to place the issue on the ballot. Michelle Allgood, an attorney with Mitchell Williams Law, told JRN that under Arkansas law, a special election is an election that would not normally happen, differing from routine elections such as mayoral races.
“A special election is an election that would not otherwise happen, except for action that is taken specifically for that purpose. This is the mechanism for putting a sales tax on the ballot, through a special election,” Allgood said. “The dates that a special election is allowed to be held mirror election dates that an election would otherwise be held.”
Both ordinances had their first reading before council members unanimously voted to suspend the rules and waive the second and third readings. All council members present voted to approve both ordinances.
A petition to place the sales tax on the ballot was first filed with the Craighead County Clerk in early July. Safety First for Jonesboro members spent the summer working to collect the required number of signatures to place the issue before voters.
The petition drive required 3,592 valid signatures to qualify, representing 15% of the votes cast in the last Jonesboro mayoral election. Signatures had to be turned in on Aug. 25. On Aug. 27, city and county officials confirmed to JRN that petitioners had collected 4,239 valid signatures.
“I’d like to thank the council for forwarding on the ballot initiative,” Safety First for Jonesboro committee chairman Matt Garrett said during public comments. “We look forward to informing people and the residents of Jonesboro more about this initiative.”
Early voting for the 2026 general election begins Oct. 19 and will conclude Nov. 2. Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The deadline to register to vote for this election is Monday, Oct. 5. Click here for voter registration information.
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