JPs OK Judge’s ARP Spending Plan for Animal Shelter & Jail
After a marathon meeting last night, the Faulkner County Quorum Court authorized a Resolution to spend the County’s $10 million in unrestricted ARP funds for an animal shelter and new jail, plus funding for 911/PSAP consolidation, Courthouse/Justice Bldg. repairs, and levee work.
Although the meeting agenda did not indicate official action, JPs voted to approve Resolution 23-8 after the County revealed its “concept” to use $1.5 million in ARP funds to build an animal shelter in Springhill and “give it” to an as-yet-not-created 501-C organization to run under contract.
While the animal shelter project seemed to have stalled due to the ongoing question of how to fund ongoing operations, the County’s “concept” uses the $1.5 million accumulated in the voluntary animal welfare tax fund to subsidize operational costs. Those funds will last about three years at the $500,000/year figure JPs discussed last night, although it was noted that expected annual costs could run higher.
The County’s expectations are that the 501-C contract group will generate any extra required revenue and that citizens will pay more into the voluntary tax fund in future years because a shelter will now be provided.
Judge Allen Dodson informed JPs back in April of his plan for spending the $10 million ARP windfall; however, last night marked the first time the entire Quorum Court met on the issue.
After Dodson distributed the Resolution with blank dollar amounts — which was not part of the meeting agenda — JPs approved in an 11-to-2 vote a motion by JP John Allison (R, Dist. 3) to add these figures and exempt these appropriations from the just-started 2024 budget cycle:
$6 million for a new jail
$1.5 million for a new animal shelter
$1 million for Courthouse/Justice Bldg. repairs
$750,000 for 911/PSAP consolidation
$750,000 for levee repair
Allison’s motion adjusted Dodson’s proposed allocation of ARP funds for the jail upward from $5.5 million, taking the $500,000 from the proposed 911 and levee set-asides. The jail project is estimated to cost $19 to $20 million total; Dodson explained jail project funding in detail at the September Courts & Public Safety Committee meeting.
Discussion about the shelter prevailed for the majority of the three-and-a-half-hour meeting, with some limited explanations about the other items. The Court will next approve separate appropriations Ordinances for each of the five ARP items in Resolution 23-8.
It’s unclear whether the numerous animal advocates in the room knew about the County’s 501-C animal shelter plan before last night’s meeting; however, those individuals — who broke into applause at the meeting’s end — again made numerous pleas and complaints about animals during the hour-long public comment portion, held first before last night’s limited details were revealed.
Only one individual spoke in opposition to Dodson’s funding plans; Dodson denied a request to have public comment after the evening’s discussion.
Entire Meeting (in 2 parts):
Video from Faulkner County’s YouTube channel.)
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