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AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF JONESBORO, ARKANSAS ON THE QUESTION OF LEVYING A CITY-WIDE FIVE-EIGHTHS OF ONE PERCENT (0.625%) SALES AND USE TAX; AND PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO.
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WHEREAS, under the authority granted pursuant to Arkansas Code Annotated §26-75-307(b) and Article 5, §1 of the Arkansas Constitution, citizens of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas (the “City”) have presented a petition to the Jonesboro City Clerk and to the Jonesboro City Council requesting that the City call an election on the levy of a new five-eighths of one percent (0.625%) sales and use tax dedicated to public safety services, initiatives, facilities, infrastructure, maintenance, and operations; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance-26:034 , the City has levied the tax; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Ordinance is to call a special election on the question of the levy of the Sales and Use Tax (defined below).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas:
Section 1. There is hereby called a special election to be held on November 3, 2026, at which election there shall be submitted to the electors of the City the question of the levy of a new five-eighths of one percent (0.625%) sales and use tax dedicated to public safety services, initiatives, facilities, infrastructure, maintenance, and operations as authorized by Arkansas Code Annotated §§ 26-75-301 et seq. (the “Sales and Use Tax”).
Section 2. The question of levying the Sales and Use Tax shall be placed on the ballot for the election in substantially the following form:
0.625% SALES AND USE TAX
Adoption of a 0.625% local sales and use tax within the City of Jonesboro, the net collections of which after deduction of the administrative charges of the State of Arkansas and required rebates shall be used for the sole and restricted purpose of funding new and existing public safety services, initiatives, facilities, infrastructure, maintenance, and operations, including one or more of the following (i) to pay the costs of new, improvements to existing, and the future renovation, improvement, and repair of facilities and equipment used to support and promote public safety, including particularly, without limitation, land acquisition, construction, expansion, or renovation of one or more stand alone or co-located fire stations, police stations, first responder operations centers, emergency services buildings, communication centers, animal services buildings, code enforcement offices, and safe rooms, street lighting, cameras and monitoring equipment, emergency vehicles, apparatus, and equipment, protective and support gear for public safety personnel, and technology hardware and software, together with extension and relocation of utilities, related administrative offices, traffic signals, project site infrastructure and drainage, parking, furnishings, and equipment, (ii) to pay the costs of operation, maintenance, and providing of public safety services, initiatives, facilities, and infrastructure and related costs, including, but not limited to, costs of utilities, salaries, wages, and benefits, and (iii) to pay and secure the repayment of bonds approved by the voters and issued by the City from time to time to finance public safety facilities and infrastructure.
FOR
AGAINST
Section 3. The election shall be held and conducted and the vote canvassed and the results declared under the law and in the manner now provided for municipal elections and only qualified voters of the City shall have the right to vote at the election.
Section 4. The results of the election shall be proclaimed by the Mayor, and such Proclamation shall be published one time in a newspaper having a general circulation in the City, which Proclamation shall advise that the results as proclaimed shall be conclusive unless attacked in the courts within thirty days after the date of publication.
Section 5. A copy of this Ordinance shall be filed with the Craighead County Clerk at least 60 days prior to the election date. A copy of this Ordinance shall also be given to the Craighead County Board of Election Commissioners so that the necessary election officials and supplies may be provided. A certified copy of this Ordinance and the Tax Ordinance shall also be provided to the Commissioner of Revenues of the State of Arkansas as soon as practical.
Section 6. The Mayor and City Clerk, for and on behalf of the City, are hereby authorized and directed to do any and all things necessary to call and hold the special election as herein provided and, if the levy of the Sales and Use Tax is approved by the electors, to cause the Sales and Use Tax to be collected, and to perform all acts of whatever nature necessary to carry out the authority conferred by this Ordinance.
Section 7. The provisions of this Ordinance are hereby declared to be separable and if any provision shall for any reason be held illegal or invalid, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Ordinance.
Section 8. All ordinances and parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2026.