Jonesboro holds public hearing on $16 million revenue bond to fund E911 center, roads and trails

Jonesboro Mayor opened a public hearing May 20, 2025, on a proposed $16 million revenue bond package intended to fund an E911/public safety center, the Caraway Road expansion and a suite of trails and parks projects.

The bond package, Mayor said, will be repaid from existing franchise-fee revenues and “does not represent a tax increase or a cost increase to the public.” The mayor added the bond “does not authorize purchase of property,” and that construction proceeds must be expended within three years.

The bond proposal would fund an estimated $5,500,000 E911/public safety center, a multi-stage widening of Caraway Road that could be advertised for bids as early as fall 2025, and several pedestrian side-path and trail projects tied to the city’s long-range trail network and a planned $2,000,000 park expansion on roughly 18 acres (the presentation said the park could expand to about 23 acres). The city presented a total project budget of $16,000,000 with roughly $1,500,000 set aside for cost absorption.

Why it matters: Council officials said the package accelerates projects that have been discussed for more than a…