Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Voters will decide on whether to implement a city 5/8-cent sales and use tax to be used to fund various public safety initiatives in Jonesboro, after officials certified that enough signatures were collected to place the issue on the November ballot.
City of Jonesboro Clerk April Leggett confirmed to JRN on Thursday that the petition had been approved by 4,239 signatures, and that the initiative had been filed with the Craighead County Clerk’s office. County Clerk MaryDawn Marshall confirmed the filing to JRN.
The tax, if approved, will be used to fund “public safety services, initiatives, facilities, infrastructure, maintenance and operations.” It will be sent to the Jonesboro City Council so an ordinance placing it on the ballot can be approved.
| PREVIOUSLY: Petition Seeking Sales Tax Vote Filed with County Clerk
The petition drive required 3,592 valid signatures to qualify, representing 15% of the votes cast in the last Jonesboro mayoral election. Marshall previously told JRN that 23,947 ballots were cast in the 2024 mayoral race. The deadline to submit the required signatures was Aug. 25.
The effort was led by Safety First for Jonesboro, a recently formed ballot committee comprised of local public safety professionals. Jonesboro Professional Firefighters Association President Matt Garrett serves as chairman, and Chris Nugent as treasurer. Shay Racy is leading police outreach and Jason Dyck is coordinating outreach for the city’s E-911 dispatchers.
“We appreciate the citizens of Jonesboro supporting Safety First for Jonesboro by providing enough signatures to get this initiative on the ballot,” Garrett said in a statement. “We look forward to talking with residents about the greatly needed public safety infrastructure improvements to keep our citizens safe.”
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Safety First for Jonesboro leadership 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.
The initiative comes after city leaders recently approved purchasing a building on Highland Drive to serve as a second, interim police station, implemented police officer recruitment initiatives, and outlined plans for the Jonesboro Fire Department’s long-term growth.
“I appreciate the efforts of our firefighters, police officers, 911 operators, and the multiple supporters of this grassroots effort who took their own personal time to have discussions with thousands of Jonesboro residents about not only their needs, but the benefits reach resident stands to earn with increased funding for our first responders,” Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver said in a statement.
“I also appreciate the thousands of people who took time to sign their petition to allow all Jonesboro voters to have a say in investing more in public safety,” he added.
The Jonesboro City Council would appropriate the revenue, but state law would limit the funds to the public safety purposes outlined in the proposal.
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.
Update: This article was updated to include comments from Safety First for Jonesboro Chairman Matt Garrett.
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