Budget Committee Makes Quick Work of Five Votes
Switching the always-first Budget & Finance Committee meeting to come after the Personnel Committee on Tuesday, August 9, allowed the Budget Committee to go ahead and approve two new school resource officers as part of an agreement between Greenbrier Schools and the Sheriff’s Department plus a new position in the 1st Division Circuit Court all in one evening.
Now both measures go immediately to the full Quorum Court for a vote next week.
It took less than 15 minutes to approve four Ordinances plus one Resolution and hear a quick financial report.
Resolution 22-03 (Amended), WestRock Coffee Co.
County Attorney Phil Murphy explained that the earlier Resolution the Court had approved used an incorrect corporate name for the new company’s tax credits. The Committee unanimously passed the new Resolution with the correct name; no discussion.
Ordinance 22-33, Monthly Appropriations
The Committee quickly approved the Ordinance — including $3.3 million for asphalt and some $175,000+ for Homeland Security machinery & equipment — with no questions or discussion.
Ordinance 22-35, $5,000 Stipend Prosecutor’s Office
Murphy pointed out that, as Sections 1 and 2 say, the Legislature approved a $5,000 stipend for law enforcement officers.
The Ordinance appropriates that stipend for the drug task force officers in the Prosecutor’s Office at a cost of $3,830 from County General for the $25,000 total in stipends paid by the state of Arkansas. The Committee unanimously approved the Ordinance.
Ordinance 22-34, Greenbrier School Resource Officers
With no discussion (most if not all heard the Personnel Committee discussion), JPs voted to approved the Ordinance, which now goes to the Quorum Court for next week’s meeting.
Ordinance 22-39, New Position in 1st Division Circuit Court
After JP Matt Brown (R, Dist. 8) spoke to support Judge Susan Weaver’s request for a full-time position in her Circuit Court, Pearson touched on the idea of adding another District to help support the growing and already heavy caseload in the 1st Division.
JPs unanimously passed the Ordinance on to the Quorum Court for next week’s meeting.
July Financials
Jennie Felling, Chief Deputy in the County Treasurer’s office, saying “we’re in good shape,” presented various fund totals through July:
County General $4,323,436
County Road $3,015,129
County Road Sales Tax $3,543,797
Animal Control $1,414,467
Criminal Justice Sales Tax $2,286,790
CARES Act $1,069,006
ARP $23,462,888
County revenue — at 66% of projected — is about $120,000 less than this time last year, which she attributed to “circuit court fines/fees and jail fees.
UPDATE: The Committee approved four Ordinances and one Resolution; the WestRock Coffee vote was a Resolution.
Videos edited from original video on Faulkner County’s YouTube channel.)
Visit Faulkner County Reports on YouTube for more videos and video excerpts from this and other County meetings.
