Officials Begin Work On Craighead County Budget, Committee Named
by October 12, 2015 7:03 pm 135 views
Craighead County officials will begin Tuesday building a financial roadmap with officials hoping not to face any proverbial potholes.
County Judge Ed Hill announced Monday (Oct. 12) that five justices will serve on the county’s Budget Committee for the 2016 budget. Serving on the committee are justices Ken Stacks, Terry Couch, Ray Kidd, Richard Rogers and Donnie Tennison.
The partisan make up is three Republicans (Couch, Rogers and Tennison) and two Democrats (Stacks and Kidd). However, the budget committee has typically worked in a bipartisan, nonpartisan manner in the past.
The previous budget was $26 million. The county employs between 275 and 300.
In the Finance Committee meeting Monday, several officials discussed the financial picture for the county. County Treasurer Terry McNatt said the county has seen good sales tax numbers this year, with officials watching line items intently. Collections year-to-date are up 6.83% compared to the same reporting period in 2014.
Some of the discussion centered around pooling resources for copiers, update the lighting system in and around the courthouse in Jonesboro as well as putting the heating and cooling system on timers.
County Clerk Kade Holliday also suggested that officials look at improving safety in and around the courthouse. Holliday said recent incidents around the country have pushed the issue to the forefront of debate, with the federal building in Jonesboro providing a good example of what is needed. The federal courthouse has security officers, cameras and visitors must walk through metal detectors.
The next step for the budget process will involve the committee meeting with elected officials over the next several weeks. Stacks said the committee will meet at least three times to review the budget, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2016.