Why I Supported Keeping Jonesboro’s Millage Rate at 9 Mills

By Councilwoman Santia Fox
Reshaping One Jonesboro

Tonight, I supported keeping the City of Jonesboro’s millage rate at its current 9 mills.

I want residents to understand why.

This was not an easy decision for me. I struggled with it for nearly a month, not only as a councilmember, but as a Jonesboro resident and former business owner. I understand that running a city costs money, and I understand that rising costs affect our ability to provide quality services.

But I also understand that every additional dollar we ask for comes from our residents and businesses.

Jonesboro has real needs. We need competitive salaries, qualified staff, stronger financial systems, infrastructure improvements and continued investment in public safety and essential city services.

But before asking taxpayers for more, I believe City Hall has an obligation to demonstrate that we are responsibly managing what residents already entrust to us.

For me, this decision was bigger than the millage rate.

It was about leadership, accountability, financial controls and public trust.

More Revenue Does Not Fix the Underlying Problems

Since taking office in January, I have pushed for stronger financial controls, greater transparency, better procurement practices, updated personnel policies and greater accountability over taxpayer dollars.

I have questioned expenditures that exceeded appropriated amounts. I have requested contracts, invoices, funding sources and supporting documentation. I have asked for clearer procedures surrounding spending and transfers.

My position has remained simple:

Show us the documentation.

Overspending cannot automatically become a reason to ask residents for more money. We first need to understand how we arrived here and correct the systems that contributed to it.

Our Audits Matter

The City’s FY2024 audit raised concerns involving internal controls and expenditures over appropriations. Those findings should lead to corrective action, not simply another report placed on a shelf.

Now we have another serious concern.

On September 14, 2026, the City received a letter regarding the audit for the year ending December 31, 2025. The State informed us that it had not received the required audit report or report of agreed upon procedures.

The letter further stated that our legislative delegation must be notified and that the City is currently ineligible to receive state grant fund transmittals until the applicable audit requirements are satisfied.

At a time when we are considering asking residents for additional tax dollars, I believe getting our own financial reporting and controls in order must be a priority.

Our Staffing Problem Is About More Than Pay

I also understand the argument that additional revenue could help the City recruit and retain employees.

But I do not believe compensation tells the entire story.

We have lost good employees, and I have serious concerns about workplace culture, organizational stability and management practices.

That is why I have pushed for updated personnel policies, a meaningful employee grievance process, an independent workplace climate survey, clearer boundaries between elected officials and employees and qualified Human Resources leadership.

We cannot simply increase salaries and expect organizational problems to disappear.

If we want good employees to stay, we must create a professional environment where people are respected, policies are followed, expectations are clear and accountability applies consistently.

Jonesboro Needs Stronger Systems

Whether I am asking questions about procurement, personnel, budgets, SPLOST, ARPA, contracts, staffing or audits, these issues are connected.

Jonesboro needs stronger systems.

Good government should not depend on who occupies a particular office. It should be built around policies, procedures, checks and balances, documentation and accountability.

Leadership changes.

Systems should remain.

That is what I mean when I talk about Reshaping One Jonesboro.

Before We Ask Residents for More

I am not saying Jonesboro will never need additional revenue.

I am saying that before asking residents for more, I want us to show measurable progress.

Get our audits current.

Strengthen our financial controls.

Address previous audit findings.

Complete our personnel policies.

Improve our workplace culture.

Fill critical positions.

Strengthen procurement and documentation.

And demonstrate that the dollars residents already provide are being managed responsibly.

If, after doing that work, the numbers demonstrate that additional revenue is necessary to provide the services Jonesboro residents expect, then we can have that conversation openly, transparently and with the facts in front of us.

My Commitment Has Not Changed

When I took office, I promised transparency, accountability and responsible governance.

This decision tested those commitments.

I spent nearly a month weighing the needs of our city against the responsibility we have to the people who ultimately pay the bill.

I would rather ask difficult questions today than explain an avoidable financial problem to residents tomorrow.

Jonesboro has tremendous potential, but our foundation must be sound.

My goal is not simply to help Jonesboro spend more.

My goal is to help Jonesboro govern better.

That is why I supported maintaining Jonesboro’s millage rate at 9 mills.

And that is why I will continue working to Reshape One Jonesboro through transparency, accountability and good governance.

Councilwoman Santia Fox
Reshaping One Jonesboro 🧡

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