Jonesboro, AR (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Oct. 20, 2024 – From the library millage to a jail tax, the General Election has brought Craighead County voters some local issues to consider before Election Day.

Library millage

The library millage has been a hot topic for politicians and voters alike this year.

After a long controversy over the placement of books in the children’s section of the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, the library’s budget was cut in half during the 2022 election, which in turn caused many changes, from changes in hours and programming to employee layoffs.

However, voters get the chance to restore some of that funding if they want by voting for or against an issue titled “A petition to increase the amount of city millage tax on real and personal property supporting maintenance and operation of the Craighead County Public Library.

If passed this will allow for a 1.0 mil increase to the city millage tax on real and personal property to support the maintenance and operation of the library, according to information found on the Craighead County website.

County jail tax

With the Craighead County Detention Center out of room to house inmates, residents will also consider the need for a new jail and the 0.5% sales tax to fund it.

For more than 30 years the jail has housed prisoners, however as the population has grown so has the number of inmates. Earlier this year, the Craighead County Quorum Court passed a resolution sending this issue before the voters and now is time for them to decide the fate of the detention center with an issue on the ballot titled “Special election on county sales and use tax levy and bond issuance.”

This will determine the issuance of Capital Improvement Bonds in principal amount not to exceed $105 million. If the issuance of the Bonds is approved, the county will be able to proceed with construction on either a jail expansion or a new facility.

School Millages

Although there is no school district millage changes up for the debate this time around, voters still may see millage referendums on their ballots for the school’s transparency and to keeps the voters informed. These millages include:

Brookland Public Schools’ 38.53 Mills School Tax, which includes the Statewide Uniform Rate of tax 25.00 mills specifically for general maintenance and operation and 13.53 mills for debt services. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the district for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 38.53 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Buffalo Island Central Schools’ 40.00 Mill School Tax, which includes the Statewide Uniform Rate of tax 25.00 mills specifically for general maintenance and operation and 15.00 mills for debt services. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the district for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 40.0 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Jonesboro Public Schools’ 33.10 Mills School Tax, which includes the Statewide Uniform Rate of tax 25.00 mills and 0.40 mills that are specifically for general maintenance, and operation and 7.70 mills for debt services. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the district for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 33.10 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Nettleton Public Schools’ 38.58 Mills School Tax, which includes the Statewide Uniform Rate of tax 25.00 mills and 0.98 mills that are specifically for general maintenance, and operation and 12.60 mills for debt services. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the district for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 38.58 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Valley View Public Schools’ 42.50 Mill School Tax, which includes the Statewide Uniform Rate of tax 25.00 mills specifically for general maintenance and operation and 17.50 mills for debt services. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the district for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 42.50 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Westside Consolidated School District’s 35.42 Mills School Tax, which includes the Statewide Uniform Rate of tax 25.00 mills and 1.00 mills that are specifically for general maintenance, and operation and 9.42 mills for debt services. The surplus revenues produced each year by the debt service millage may be used by the district for other school purposes. The total proposed school tax levy of 35.42 mills represents the same rate presently being collected.

Early voting starts Monday, Oct. 21, and the General Election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5.