Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – June 20, 2024 – Justices on the Craighead County Quorum Court may begin the process of asking voters to approve an additional sales tax to fund a new Craighead County Jail during their Monday night meeting.
County Administrator Brandon Schrader released the agenda for Monday night’s Quorum Court meeting and a “special called meeting” of the court’s Public Services committee. Both agendas reference “An Ordinance Calling and Setting a Date for a Special Election on the Question of the Issuance by the County of Sales and Use Tax Capital Improvement Bond.”
The full quorum court meeting agenda references “first reading.”
On May 29, 2024, JRN reported that Craighead County Sheriff Marty Boyd was suggesting a tax to fund a new jail saying the current jail, constructed in 35 years ago, was old, outdated, and too small.
In a discussion with JRN’s Brett Barber a few days later, Boyd said, “Throwing some money toward another in a series of expansions is just kicking the can down the road. I’m trying to look at what Craighead County is going to need in the next 30 years. Doing a 100-bed expansion is not going to solve this problem. In the next 5 years, we’ll be having this conversation again.”
The special Public Services committee meeting is scheduled for 5:15pm Monday in Room 119 at the Craighead County Judge’s Office, 511 Union Street. The full Quorum Court meets 15 minutes later at 5:30.
Members of the public can view the meetings online. Instructions can be found on the Craighead County Quorum Court webpage.