Faulkner County Reports

Accountability, Ethics, & Transparency in Government

JP Voters Guide 2020: Republican Tyler Lachowsky, District 6

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Here’s the responses to our Faulkner County Quorum Court/JP Voters Guide from Republican incumbent candidate Tyler Lachowsky in District 6.

Part 1:
Role of the Quorum Court

  1. What do you see as the main function of the Faulkner County Quorum Court? How can you contribute?

    Keeping taxes low, limiting the size of government, and ensuring individual and economic freedom.

  2. Is it important to increase transparency around the actions of Faulkner County government? Why or why not?

    Transparency is a necessary tool to ensure accountability with our tax dollars and how our government is run. All elected officials should do what is in their ability to increase transparency.

  3. How do you plan to best reflect the views and desires of constituents in your JP District?

    My connections with my community allow me to consult and talk with many constituents. I see myself as someone elected by my neighbors to hold our county government accountable. It is my responsibility to understand the views and desires of my constituents, and then to use that understanding to direct my actions on the court.

  4. What role should Faulkner County government play in the population growth of the County?

    As our population grows, it is important that County government continues to uphold the freedoms and liberty we enjoy in the rural parts of the County. What’s also important is that as government provides service to more people, that we may not necessarily expand the size of government, but find more optimal approaches to solve today’s problems.

  5. In the past, the Quorum Court has often compared Faulkner County to Class 6 counties, which are grouped together based on population alone. Should Faulkner County’s financial and tax decisions mirror those of other Class 6 counties, or should we determine our choices based on our County’s unique circumstances? Why or why not?

    It is up to the people of the County to decide what they find acceptable as far as level of taxation. Thus far, we’ve chosen to remain on the lower end of taxation and that may be a key reason for the exponential growth we’ve seen in Faulkner County over the past three decades.

    It’s important that the County is a good steward of our taxpayer dollars. While we can look at what other counties are doing, we must do what is best for the people in Faulkner County.

Part 2:
County Concerns & Issues

  1. Various groups and elected officials have weighed in on Faulkner County’s most pressing financial concerns. What do you think are Faulkner County’s top 3 financial issues, and how do you plan to address them?

    1. Keeping county expenditures under our revenues. The County has been supplementing its spending with carryover from high revenues from the severance tax in the late 2000’s. That carryover has decreased substantially, and we cannot continue to budget based off carryover funds because we will eventually run out. All County entities must learn to expend within their means.

    2. Deteriorating Capital Infrastructure. Our Unit 1 Jail, our County Courthouse, and deferred maintenance on other County buildings. I will continue to vote to sequester $1 million a year into a capital expenditure account so that we can begin to save for these eventual expenditures.

    2. 3. Planning. Lack of long-range planning on the part of our executive branch has hindered the County’s ability to prepare for the future. To address the planning issue, the Quorum Court should ask for long-range plans every budget season to see that budgets align with our long-term goals.

  2. Everyone has seen the news coverage of this summer’s ongoing civil unrest across the country, and Conway has already experienced a brief incident. With that ever-present threat in mind, what role should Public Safety play in the operations of Faulkner County?

    Public safety is critical to Faulkner County. From the Sheriff’s Office, to our volunteer fire departments, to animal control, we must do our best to provide a safe community.

    It’s important that when we call 911 for help that someone answers and someone can arrive quickly. We must properly fund our public safety entities to ensure this occurs.

  3. Faulkner County has tried to address an ever-growing animal control issue; for years, many volunteer groups have been involved at varying levels of interest. What is the optimal solution for animal control in Faulkner County? What issues do you see that support or restrict your optimal solution?

    Animal control has multiple aspects. In my first term we passed the County’s spay and neuter program — a critical step to begin controlling the population and collecting data.

    The Sheriff’s Office must have the tools to deal with vicious animals, either through calling an organization or doing it themselves. Vicious animals must be top priority in animal control.

    The County also needs the ability to coordinate with local rescues to aid in the control of strays.

    I do not support the creation of a County department for animal control. I do not believe expanding the size of government is the answer to this problem.

    Entering into an agreement with one or more local rescues to assist in animal control, being supported by voluntary tax funds, gives the experts in rescues the ability to operate beyond the confines of government to do what is best for the animals they have a passion for helping.

  4. Arkansans now have the second highest taxes in the country. Given the Arkansas Legislature’s 2019 tax increases (Internet sales tax, fuel tax, electric car tax, water bill tax, cell phone tax, tobacco tax), do the citizens of Faulkner County have an appetite for higher taxes now? Why or why not?

    Absolutely not. Citizens know how to spend their money better than the government. Until the government can efficiently and effectively operate with the tax dollars they’re allotted, they should not be able to collect tax dollars further.

  5. Our 70-year-old County Courthouse needs remodeling or replacement. How would you decide whether to remodel the building or replace it?

    I’m a big component of our local history here in Faulkner County. If there is a means to remodel the Courthouse to fit our needs and if we can do it in a way that makes financial sense, I will support it. It also comes down to timing and what our other priorities are at the time.

  6. For the past several years the Sheriff has reported to the Quorum Court that the Department is significantly understaffed, given the County’s size and growing population. How would you rank the Sheriff’s Department’s longstanding identified and documented needs along with the other financials needs in Faulkner County?

    I think finding a solution for the Sheriff’s Office is one of our top priorities. We have looked at potential alternative revenue sources the Sheriff can pursue outside of tax increases.