Jonesboro, Arkansas – Craighead County voters will have the final say in November on whether two county government positions should become one.
A proposal to combine the offices of county treasurer and tax collector will appear on the ballot, giving voters an opportunity to decide whether the two positions should operate as a single office in the future.
Craighead County Judge Marvin Day has supported the proposed change, saying the combination could save the county money while reducing the number of people holding positions of power.
Not everyone on the Craighead County Quorum Court has agreed with that approach.
Justice of the Peace Garrett Barnes was among five Quorum Court members who voted against the ordinance when it came before the body in February.
Barnes has raised questions about the information used to support combining the two positions. He said the study examining the potential change did not provide enough compelling information to show why the county should restructure the offices.
He also expressed concern that voters may head to the polls in November without having enough details to make a fully informed decision about what the change would mean.
“I think we need to be absolutely certain on what we’re getting before it even goes to the ballot,” Barnes said. “Right now, we are not absolutely certain on what we’re going to get. There’s no substantiated plan that shows how it’s going to be better than what we already have.”
Barnes also pointed to the response he received while the proposal was being considered by the Quorum Court.
According to Barnes, he did not receive emails, telephone calls or public comments supporting the combination during the court’s deliberations.
He has also cited the county’s audit history as a reason to question whether changing the current structure is necessary. Barnes pointed to 12 consecutive years of successful legislative audits as evidence that the existing system has been functioning.
“We don’t know exactly what we’re going to get,” Barnes said. “I think we should figure it out before we send it to the voters to vote on.”
The issue now moves beyond the Quorum Court and into the hands of Craighead County voters.
The ballot question will allow residents to determine whether the treasurer and tax collector positions should remain separate or be combined into one office.
The change would not happen immediately even if voters approve the proposal in November.
Under the plan, the combined office would take effect in January 2031, leaving several years between voter approval and implementation.
Until then, the county’s current structure would remain in place.
The November vote will ultimately determine whether Craighead County moves forward with the proposed consolidation or continues operating with separate treasurer and tax collector positions.
