Sales Tax, Budgets On Agenda For Craighead County JPs

A plan to look at how Craighead County spends taxpayer money and where it comes from will be discussed at the county’s quorum court meeting Monday night.

Craighead County administrative assistant Tony Thomas said Friday the issue has stemmed from officials looking at the county’s road and general funds for ways to find additional funding.

Thomas said the county has several one-time projects to complete including building projects and pressing needs.

“Some have wanted increases in the funds available in the general fund,” Thomas said. “Honestly, fiscally, we have seen a decrease in the general fund balance and an increase in the road fund.”

At their last meeting, several justices discussed increasing funding for the sheriff’s department including a request for more deputies and personnel.

Thomas said the county has seen some changes in the past several years in a variety of things.

“Overall, the population has gone up. However, overall, we have seen an increase in the number of municipal officers due to areas in the county being annexed into the city,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the county does have joint and mutual aid agreements with cities on a variety of issues, including law enforcement, to help if a need arises.

FUNDING
Thomas said the county’s overall one-cent sales tax each month is split among the county and each city, based on population.

Jonesboro receives the lion’s share of that funding, at nearly 70 percent, Thomas said.

The sales tax is also divided, with 60 percent going toward roads with the rest going to the general fund, Thomas said.

There has been a proposal to add additional money to the general fund, with roads getting 50 percent, county general getting 47.5 percent and the capital budget getting 2.5 percent.

However, no action has been taken on that proposal.

Thomas said there has been a lot of confusion on where money can be spent.

“There has been a lot of discussion about the roads being restricted. It is not restricted but dedicated, with each municipality receiving a share. Since 2010, the county has seen a decrease in the percentage (of sales tax received) due to population,” Thomas said.

The drop has been attributed to the growth in cities like Brookland, Bono and Lake City, with most of the land in the county with the residents going into the cities, Thomas said.

The county does have some flexibility on millage rates, Thomas said.

“Each year, the Quorum Court, by state law, can pass a general millage. We have four general (fund) mills, with a maximum of five and 2.1 road mills and can collect up to three maximum,” Thomas said.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday at the Craighead County Courthouse Annex.