JONESBORO — In its Monday, Dec. 11 meeting, the Jonesboro City Council unanimously approved its fiscal year 2024 budget, which includes a property tax rate decrease and a 2% cost-of-living increase for all employees who are not sworn officers.
Sworn officers received a 16% pay raise in August.
The 2024 general fund budget is more than $7.58 million with a contingency reserve of $11,022.
A glance at the projected 2024 general fund expenses:
— Mayor and Council: $138,581.
— Administration: $1.52 million.
— Jonesboro City Center: $299,590.
— Municipal Court: $313,365.
— Public Safety: $3.94 million.
— Public Works: $1.2 million.
— Code Enforcement: $146,330.
— Contingency Reserve: $11,002.
The public safety budget is more than $900,000 than what was budgeted in 2023.
The contingency reserve was budgeted at $339,446 in 2023 but the projected actual contingency reserve is $307.
Two public hearings on the 2024 budget were held — one at the Council’s Dec. 4 work session and one at the Dec. 11 regular meeting.
The general fund pays for the city’s day-to-day operating expenses.
During its regular meeting Oct. 9, the Council unanimously voted to reduce its property tax rate.
The 2023 rate is 8 mills and that was the original proposed rate for the 2024 budget.
During discussion of the millage rate on Oct. 9, Council member Ed Wise made a motion for the rate to be reduced to 7.5 and it was approved.
Even though the proposed 8.0 millage rate was the same as the current rate, the City of Jonesboro was required by law to advertise it as a tax increase as property values have increased.
The rate of 7.5 means that an owner of a $100,000 home would pay $300 in City of Jonesboro taxes — $20 less than the 8.0 millage rate. That doesn’t count any county or school board taxes or any exemptions.
In October of 2022, the City Council voted to…
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