[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6501126,"mediaKeyId","5506662-064d8b1ee3cc09dd1d9a39c202b567b1","parentId",5506662,"title","Board discusses resetting enforcement strategic goals; motion made to schedule Aug. 7 interviews with audit committee","audioSeconds",455,"startMs",3825000,"endMs",4280000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5506662-064d8b1ee3cc09dd1d9a39c202b567b1&start=3825&end=4280","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5506662-064d8b1ee3cc09dd1d9a39c202b567b1/thumbnail_3825000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6501126/Fort-Smith/Sebastian-County/Arkansas/Board-discusses-resetting-enforcement-strategic-goals-motion-made-to-schedule-Aug-7-interviews-with-audit-committee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501126-96ec8e785121fb2372daf186428aecbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775391029&Signature=OgkdwMDKLUXB06eR-8R06yfnOg1SWlQ-VEHOuYrVRdfMlmnQxhD0QSItpxMMlbw0KSX7zvRYCOqjk9f3E5fP7lMkZULdgnaP8NpZuDrZqPFi2bhFru4~AHdODvr8GROmRPf9vu1NS-fWbWXnOsin5avFf6fx0xbM94FIrB6s2lRUI2z7jKVowoaOudeDEBVfhNtJ9hfCRnQoLDhA-dF6AJX6oBQtg6Hvu1OBGYnGrYcOC9Z20AWorWCzCqRRTrivjg4uuQht3Ql6wdMpbkmBfdQ8JWwF8rLcIYa38NiROJYZ8viNjYe~2e4izNG~rb8RSv~0omLDu1WtK7PaCw-L9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fort Smith","date","2025-07-29T17:59:00Z","article","The Fort Smith City Board of Directors discussed city enforcement strategic goals adopted by resolution in December 2023 and considered timing for a follow-on strategic-planning workshop during the 2026 budget cycle.

Administration staff Jeff opened the discussion by referencing the resolution that established six strategic goals in September 2023 and was adopted by resolution in December 2023. Jeff said reviewing those goals as part of the 2026 budget season would help align department workplans with board priorities.

Directors expressed support for a day-long facilitated strategic-planning session. \"I'm in favor of the day long session because I think it allows us to have some freedom and talk through things, throw everything up there,\" one director said, adding that prior workshops had helped the board narrow goals for staff.

Board members discussed timing: several said August would be preferable to allow strategic guidance ahead of budget proposals and to provide material in advance of an October trip to Washington, D.C. Jeff said he would coordinate potential dates and facilitators and return options to the board.

Interviews and scheduling motion: During the discussion, a director made a motion seeking board concurrence for a combined interview process with the Audit Committee on Thursday, Aug. 7, in the afternoon, to interview two candidates (Amanda Strange and James Carter) for positions referenced by staff. The motion specified two interviews beginning at 2:30 p.m., and staff indicated the location would likely be the Blue Lion. The director said concurrence of four board members was being sought and that the meeting would be posted consistent with public-notice and FOIA requirements. The transcript records the motion and subsequent discussion about FOIA and scheduling but does not record a formal second or a roll-call vote; staff later said scheduling and confirmation were still under calendar review.

Next steps: Jeff will circulate possible dates and facilitator options for a strategic workshop and confirm availability for the Aug. 7 interview date with Audit Committee leadership and the candidates. The board also discussed reviewing department key-service objectives in August as part of aligning departmental workplans and budget requests to the board’s strategic goals.

Ending: Directors indicated they prefer an earlier workshop—ideally in August—to give staff direction before the budget process advances and to finalize strategic goals prior to fall budget hearings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fort Smith - Board of Directors - Special Study Session / Mid-Year Budget Review & Strategic Planning Session","oneSentenceSummary","The board reviewed the enforcement strategic goals adopted by resolution in December 2023, agreed to consider an all-day strategic workshop this fall, and a director moved to schedule combined interviews with the audit committee on Thursday, Aug. 7; the motion’s scheduling details were discussed but no recorded vote appears in the transcript.","taxTitle","Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas","taxId",3748,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6501131,"Fort Smith finance staff reports $10.5 million midyear shortfall; nonrecurring projects drove part of gap",3735,70000,3805000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5506662-064d8b1ee3cc09dd1d9a39c202b567b1&start=70&end=3805","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5506662-064d8b1ee3cc09dd1d9a39c202b567b1/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6501131/Fort-Smith/Sebastian-County/Arkansas/Fort-Smith-finance-staff-reports-105-million-midyear-shortfall-nonrecurring-projects-drove-part-of-gap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6501131-6578b9add80f1df2eda2c136b9f1b64d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775391029&Signature=bN8ieJOJFYfOpuE~rsM57SVw1FFENvmcccZQ8uLO2Gor~CKQyG2l7UfbmEV2aVJn9O-0Jp4gSy4AhhJXx~pU0Pw30iKA05XbuXIZ2JlO2AtNMxllYcvMdY3Jxx6Fov0nVSjyCRugKUS8aufe0EJYjNABNwOjKDnL4pKzdQc251VkYsqcryvaG5c4z-tcY3T~CYB2So~qj~dexrRP8xfRJ~zYd1kDdv8~Y3jdVtuVAFvrL7i2wVFMRXtZAuW75jS8SHe7Zni8mHjAdbHOhc3zw~WISZATnIA2wK1fHZEeyWlWtCQQkWYsyyK5FcZDTO~PfX-kx6cmoUmxhkw2je4bfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Fort Smith City Board of Directors study session, Finance Department staff presented an interim midyear financial report showing a $10.5 million gap between expenditures and revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2025.

Finance staff member Andy said the municipality’s contingency balance was stronger than earlier projections, with a midyear fund balance of about 31% (projected to be about 20% by year-end under the amended budget). \"Considering what we've been doing here as far as, you know, trying to retool the budget, trying to make cuts, making large investments in the city ... I think just overall, the numbers look fairly positive to me,\" Andy said.

The report compared four operating funds to the same six-month period in 2024 and to the adopted and amended 2025 budgets. Andy identified roughly $7 million in nonrecurring general-fund spending within about $34.2 million of year-to-date general-fund expenditures. Large one-time items included the Crane Kia property purchase from 2024 (about $2.3 million carried in expenditures), approximately $2 million in roof repairs, and roughly $600,000 toward the airport runway barrier/arresting-cable work. Those nonrecurring items made year-to-year comparisons more variable, Andy said.

Sales-tax and other revenues: Andy reported sales-tax receipts were effectively stable year over year through June 30, down about 1% compared with the prior June but noting a later collections report showing a 1% increase. He said the largest sales-tax source is county sales tax and that retail trade remains Fort Smith’s largest NAICS sector. Andy said overall sales-tax collections looked \"stable\" and that recent monthly data provide some reason for cautious optimism.

Outstanding projects and reimbursements: The report lists several projects and timing items that will affect final results. Parrot Island Water Park slide purchases total about $2.2 million, with about $1.9 million remaining to be paid; Andy noted that those costs were budgeted but not reflected in the June 30 actuals because invoices were not yet posted. He also said the city expects roughly $1.5 million in reimbursement draws for the transit program once grant paperwork is processed.

Water and sewer: The water and sewer fund showed a notable improvement over 2024 on an annualized debt-service-coverage estimate. Andy estimated a preliminary 118% coverage rate based on annualizing six months of net revenues, compared with a projected 71% for 2024 under the same methodology. He cautioned the estimate assumes similar revenues and expenditures in the second half of the year and that water/sewer results can be seasonal.

Reconnect and connection fees: Board members asked for a detailed accounting of reconnect, connection and late fees. Andy and water staff member Lance explained those fees are recorded in service charges; staff later provided figures showing reconnect-related revenue rose to about $196,000 for the six-month period compared with about $43,000 in the prior-year period. Lance said that category appears to include both reconnections for nonpayment and new-account (tap/connection) fees, and staff said they will provide a clearer breakout.

Other funds: The street maintenance fund showed a high midyear reserve (about 70% projected to 69%), which board members said merits a follow-up with the streets division about carryovers and capital purchases. The solid-waste fund showed modest improvement in working capital but a small $304,000 deficit at midyear, driven largely by equipment maintenance and container purchases.

Property-tax timing and budget implications: When asked whether this year’s county assessment notices would change city property-tax revenue in 2025 or 2026, Andy and administration staff said increased valuations would flow to the city in fiscal 2026 (the assessments are reflected in the subsequent year’s revenue cycle). Board members noted that valuation increases will boost future general-fund revenue but not immediately change 2025 results.

Board direction and next steps: Directors pressed staff to continue seeking expenditure reductions where feasible and to provide updated projections in September, including an updated debt-service-coverage estimate for the water and sewer fund that reflects July 1 rate changes. Staff also agreed to provide a clearer breakout of reconnect/connection/late-fee revenue and to report on outstanding capital commitments (airport work, Parrot Island, and other carryovers) and reimbursable grant draws.

Ending: Finance staff characterized current results as manageable given the nonrecurring investments and pledged to supply updated figures during the next reporting cycle ahead of the 2026 budget process.","At a Fort Smith City Board of Directors study session, finance staff presented a midyear report showing a $10.5 million shortfall in general-fund expenditures over revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2025, and identified roughly $7 million in nonrecurring expenditures that affected the comparison to 2024.","actionData","errors"]

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Board discusses resetting enforcement strategic goals; motion made to schedule Aug. 7 interviews with audit committee

Fort Smith finance staff reports $10.5 million midyear shortfall; nonrecurring projects drove part of gap