Jonesboro’s sales and use tax collections in September remained virtually unchanged during the month of September when compared to the same month in 2024, but collections are still lagging behind projections for the year.
The city collected $2.159 million last month, a 0.1% ($1,080) drop from the same month the previous year, according to records released by the city. It comes a month after Jonesboro had a modest increase in collections during the month of August when $2.187 million was collected, a 2.4% increase when compared to August 2024.
For the year, the city has collected 0.3% ($63,087) more than it did last year. It is slightly down from its budgeted projection, however. Collections are off budget by 2.3%.
Sales tax figures lag by 60 days meaning the numbers released were collected two months prior. Economists consider sales tax collections as a leading economic indicator, one that can show how a local economy can be expected to perform in the short-term.
Northeast Arkansas’ hub city has a diversified workforce that has helped it to withstand national economic downturns in recent decades, according to officials. That diverse mix of jobs include health care, manufacturing, government, retail, agriculture and others. The city is also a nexus for those in surrounding counties seeking health care, and Arkansas State University is the region’s largest university and employer.
In Craighead County, collections were also slightly up. The county’s collected $2.657 million in September, a 0.7% ($73,000) increase from the same month last year.
For the year, Craighead County has collected $22.465 million in sales and use taxes, a 1% ($148,000) increase when compared to the first nine months of 2024.