Special Tax Election

Monroe’s southside city council members held a press conference at noon on November 18, 2024, to address the critical street tax vote scheduled for December 7, 2024. District 3 Council Chairwoman Juanita Woods, District 4 Councilman Bishop Rodney McFarland, and District 5 Councilman Verbon Muhammad convened in the council chambers with members of the media and concerned citizens to voice their opposition and highlight concerns over the potential passage of the tax measure. The December ballot proposal has been a topic of intense debate since spring 2024, shortly before McFarland and Muhammad were sworn in as new council representatives.

The three council members emphasized that while they support the tax’s intended purpose, they want voters to be aware that funds from the tax have historically been used for projects beyond street repairs and maintenance. Over the years, this tax has generated millions of dollars for the city, but council members claim it has been misallocated by various administrations for purposes such as sewer improvements and building projects. Woods, McFarland, and Muhammad have repeatedly pushed for council repeals of the tax’s current language, only to have Mayor Friday Ellis veto their efforts, with northside council members supporting the mayor’s stance. Frustrated by the lack of collaboration, the trio is now appealing directly to voters.

If the measure is voted down, the council members propose rewriting the tax language to clearly define where the funds will be allocated and how much will be spent on specific projects, removing discretionary spending by the executive branch. Early voting runs from November 22 - 29, 2024, with election day on December 7, 2024. In the meantime, Woods, McFarland, and Muhammad pledged to continue seeking ways to inform the public about the issue.