Tuesday night the Baxter County Quorum Court voted unanimously in support of all county employees with the passage of the 2022 budget.
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The record county budget includes a $1 per hour raise for all employees, plus a 3% annual increase. In addition, the court gave its approval to a plea from Sheriff John Montgomery on behalf of his employees to separate his department from the county’s wage scale.
Sheriff Montgomery appealed for higher wages for his employees to address staffing and retention issues by compensating individuals based on the requirements of their positions.
Not only was the decision Tuesday night unanimous, but when it was time to entertain a motion to adopt the budget ordinance, there was a rush of voices from the justices. Judge Mickey Pendergrass asked that they “slow down” so that he could determine who made the motion and who seconded it.
The approval played out before a full courtroom, with all 11 justices present.
Judge Pendergrass said the $1 per hour increase for every employee and the 3% annual increase comes with a price tag of $521,000. The new wage scale for the sheriff’s office carries an additional cost of $270,000.
The budget is based on anticipated revenue of $33.2 million, with the county allowed by state law to appropriate up to 90% of that amount or $29.9 million.
Judge Pendergrass noted the budget has almost doubled in a few years, without specifying the time frame. He said the county’s growing revenue stream is encouraging and is allowing for officials to prepare for what he anticipates will soon be a $15 minimum wage. In addition, he said the growth prepares the county to face the competition for needed employees.
In other business, the court gave its unanimous approval to a resolution supporting a $3,000 state income tax credit for full-time law enforcement officers. It’s an effort that failed to gain passage when the legislature met earlier this year. However, the measure is expected to return for consideration during the special session of the legislature that gaveled in on Tuesday.
The resurgence of the state income tax credit is a move from the Governor’s Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas.
The resolution notes the average annual wage for full-time law enforcement officers in Arkansas ranks 49th in the nation and the annual compensation falls below the average statewide wage in the state. In addition, it notes the average entry-level wage for law enforcement officers in Arkansas is $28,610, barely above the yearly earnings of a minimum wage worker.
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