[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6494787,"mediaKeyId","5682320-1e1a2a9a4b4b757d1827e855e7ad3a63","parentId",5682320,"title","Consultant tells Pulaski County court salary schedule lags market; recommends opening ranges, annual adjustments and HR oversight","audioSeconds",87,"startMs",1265000,"endMs",1352000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682320-1e1a2a9a4b4b757d1827e855e7ad3a63&start=1265&end=1352","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682320-1e1a2a9a4b4b757d1827e855e7ad3a63/thumbnail_1265000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6494787/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Consultant-tells-Pulaski-County-court-salary-schedule-lags-market-recommends-opening-ranges-annual-adjustments-and-HR-oversight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494787-d9cd28d2c526b73dd4333bbb0b12b3e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447517&Signature=chylKc2YgNHYhS~jdFYBnQVGvB0--wXJhypfPm7kl-IQzrlIVL93cG2Hp4akcRhnDWlWHJ3RlzobkWZvilUgRfI6lortN-8UvRZHSKWR2jroviz-4Krd5sk7jiNhQy06SmbH2u4ZbxvJ5l9YdqWWlSL6vftDuZs9EWsJOuk8K3HxLICrOYsYOlRRtxyoyUrS1XmZtCfXfBRAvwEkLIs6VfSzVEG8zL8EeJfm-EZml0aXtzmy54Bxt90TVzLVlwvUqdvNJ09fqKCCWr7EP8HYSvY3-vNtuWwgwIBQG1ZX7FZoX07K10TQrWCswn68NZcEHLbPlPk26ONVEz1XchqIoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pulaski County","date","2025-08-26T00:00:00Z","article","Victoria McGrath, CEO of McGrath Human Resources Group, presented a countywide salary study to the Pulaski County Quorum Court during the Aug. 26, 2025 meeting, outlining findings and recommendations to address recruitment and retention concerns.

Why it matters: McGrath said Pulaski County's current salary schedules cap pay at the midpoint. That practice, the consultant said, compresses pay, reduces promotion and retention incentives and leaves incumbent employees with limited earning pathways compared with external market competitors. The court heard the report and was advised to review materials before the budget committee considers funding options.

Key findings presented

- Workforce age mix and turnover risk: McGrath reported that 39% of the county workforce is under age 40 and about 38% is over age 50, a mix that poses near-term retention and recruitment challenges.

- Market alignment: The consultant said roughly 84% of the county's midpoints and 86% of its maximums are below average market rates for comparable jurisdictions; many employees are being hired at market midpoints rather than the minimum, limiting upward movement.

- Structure and compression: The county uses separate classified and unclassified schedules. The classified schedule contains 16 pay grades and numerous job titles; McGrath said the county's salary range (minimum to maximum) is large but effectively capped because practice ends salary progression at the midpoint. The unclassified schedule has eight pay grades and similar compression.

- Internal equity issues: The study found many duplicate job titles across different pay grades (for example, multiple administrative-assistant levels and multiple network-administrator listings) and inconsistent job descriptions, which complicate pay and promotion decisions.

Recommendations and next steps

- Adopt an externally referenced compensation schedule with defined minimum, midpoint (market) and maximum for each grade and reinstate quartiles to guide hiring and progression.

- Open the salary schedule beyond the current midpoint (McGrath recommended working toward reopening at least to the third quartile and ultimately using the full range to enable advancement).

- Annual schedule maintenance: Review and lift the schedule annually (for example, by using a multi-year CPI-U average) and incorporate an objective movement-through-performance process (e.g., guideline percentages tied to evaluations).

- HR role and governance: Strengthen Human Resources' oversight of job titling, job-description updates, documentation for hiring above minimums, and review of performance evaluations to ensure consistency and legal defensibility.

- Phased approach to implementation: McGrath advised the court to take two weeks to study the report, then direct the agenda and budget committees to consider ordinance language accepting salary scales and to have the budget committee model cost implications. The firm said its costing placed employees at new minimums when estimating initial fiscal impact; additional funding would be required to provide raises to incumbents already paid above new minimums.

Questions from justices and staff

Justices and the HR director asked about methodology, outlier exclusion, the ability to revisit job descriptions, cost estimates and next steps:

- McGrath said her firm eliminated statistical outliers when computing averages (typically one or two low and high data points by position) and that, if a data set dropped below three usable comparables after elimination, that position would be excluded for reliability.

- Job descriptions: McGrath said the study aligned positions using current job descriptions and that department directors may work with HR to submit revised descriptions; HR will review and resubmit updated descriptions as part of the annual process.

- Costs: McGrath said the firm's initial costing exercise placed incumbents at new pay-range minimums; she did not provide a single lump-sum figure for full implementation and cautioned that immediately raising every position to midpoint or eliminating compression would carry significant fiscal impact.

- Timeline: McGrath and county staff recommended the court take the next two weeks to study the materials, submit questions to HR, and allow the budget committee to model options before bringing any ordinance to the court.

What the court will do next

County Human Resources staff offered to collect written questions from justices and forward them to McGrath for written responses. The court was asked to consider drafting an ordinance to accept the proposed salary tables and to ask the budget committee to model funding scenarios before formal adoption. McGrath said she is available to return for committee meetings to address follow-up questions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pulaski County - Quorum Court","oneSentenceSummary","Victoria McGrath of McGrath Human Resources Group told the Pulaski County Quorum Court on Aug. 26 that the county's pay schedules are compressed, often capped at the midpoint and lag average market rates, and recommended reopening ranges, annual adjustments and stronger HR oversight.","taxTitle","Pulaski County, Arkansas","taxId",3740,"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},6494793,"Pulaski County Quorum Court approves resolutions and budget ordinances, including planning-board appointment and CASA grant appropriation",86,954000,1040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682320-1e1a2a9a4b4b757d1827e855e7ad3a63&start=954&end=1040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682320-1e1a2a9a4b4b757d1827e855e7ad3a63/thumbnail_954000.jpg","/articles/6494793/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Pulaski-County-Quorum-Court-approves-resolutions-and-budget-ordinances-including-planning-board-appointment-and-CASA-grant-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494793-4bce1c2f480bc35c11129885ba101b89/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447517&Signature=oqnAl09ZTKTt1UsFsIYromNm5Nc~gg2wGS~JESAXzjx9CHtFMQdrGgDiHITVpPyROBwlIdNYY14hO6BBcFj1aOfWaMdV7qdaBtl~UQgifUsIKZApVmLnBo1hLPacZ3CdZtaYQ59juHz~RxFlGtlz9H0kh9QML5~xhN4Y8io1Kwy1q4eupansN-LNFhz76E~w0RBn9XPbTBRaHsmTPezS9WlDcMo3DFf85p2R-5cp42B7tsX4zKEcI47AS~hoMNEb0ZhQIezow4rw1ALD7j-9IK2A0QQEC5weAObqJish-sZzqiLATWPPLeBFpDcA1~ewcmFCiqkjxYsAF6RO5Pak2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pulaski County Quorum Court on Aug. 26, 2025, adopted four resolutions and three ordinances addressing appointments, proclamations, legislative positions and budget amendments.

Why it matters: The votes formally add a planning-board member, recognize the Arkansas 250 commission, register the court's support for federal voting-rights legislation, endorse a recreation development, and authorize county budget changes to accept grant funding and to fund building improvements at the regional detention facility. Several items will move to implementation steps with county departments and the budget committee.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25I53: To recognize the Arkansas 250 commission as it begins work celebrating Arkansas' history (July 4, 1776'July 4, 2026). Motion: moved by Justice Kapsch; second not specified in the record. Roll-call result: 15 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution 25I55: Confirming the appointment of Mrs. Bobby S. McDaniel to the Pulaski County Planning Board for a term to expire June 30, 2028. Motion: moved by Justice Davis; second not specified. Roll-call result: 15 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution 25I58: Expressing the Quorum Court's support for enactment and execution of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Motion: moved by Justice Massey; second not specified. Roll-call result: 14 ayes, 1 present. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution 25I59: Supporting development of the Arkansas Golf House project at North Shore Business Park and affirming alignment with the statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan. Motion: moved by Justice Elliott; second not specified. Roll-call result: 15 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinance 25I52: Amending the 2025 annual budget to recognize and appropriate state CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) grant funds for the CASA department. Motion: moved by Justice Davis; second not specified. Roll-call result: 15 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: adopted.

- Ordinance 25I54: Amending the 2025 annual budget to recognize and appropriate funds for the assessor's office. Motion: moved by Justice Blackwood; second not specified. Roll-call result: 15 ayes, 0 nays. Outcome: adopted.

- Ordinance 25I56: Amending the 2025 annual budget to recognize and appropriate contingency funds (Fund 1807) for one-time expenses for building improvements at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. Motion: moved by Justice Massey; second not specified. Roll-call result: 14 ayes, 1 present, 0 nays. Outcome: adopted.

Details from the meeting record

The court's clerk read each resolution and ordinance aloud before a motion and a roll-call vote. Several justices noted there were no questions or further discussion before votes were taken. Where the record shows only \"Move for the adoption\" and \"Second,\" the seconding justice was not named on the audio transcript.

Next steps

- The planning-board appointment will take effect according to the board's appointment procedures and the term listed in the resolution.
- Budget ordinances were adopted to recognize and appropriate specified funds; departments cited (CASA, assessor's office, regional detention facility) will proceed with implementing the appropriations consistent with county budget procedures and reporting requirements.

","At its Aug. 26, 2025 meeting the Pulaski County Quorum Court adopted four resolutions and three ordinances, including a planning-board appointment, support for federal voting-rights bills, a recognition of the Arkansas 250 commission, and budget amendments to accept state CASA grant funds and contingency funds for detention-facility improvements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6494784,"Residents urge Pulaski County court for clearer guidance after extraterritorial-jurisdiction change; officials point to planning process and outreach",465,4809000,5274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5682320-1e1a2a9a4b4b757d1827e855e7ad3a63&start=4809&end=5274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5682320-1e1a2a9a4b4b757d1827e855e7ad3a63/thumbnail_4809000.jpg","/articles/6494784/Pulaski-County/Arkansas/Residents-urge-Pulaski-County-court-for-clearer-guidance-after-extraterritorial-jurisdiction-change-officials-point-to-planning-process-and-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494784-79dab941f8b3c82cb2e3d096735af774/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447517&Signature=ODt3CsfwxZ6G0sqrLnSIEmQfd7gSL7kqQFkCx7xoHR~qNhs7wpocR3hqKAFAN1CnQUPPnQofygQPaBg156iWJN-gLZHhhAkl~qEw-3q~pobA1cOEsTu1c9cn5ugA7uZgFMsfVaa1MG4n-HaDka2oNuT9oprM06mL9f0Y2skm44MYjoSMysF6ShbAFEIZV9m7DGbsn5GBM0mHEjUAJEWDSGdrGaDiT28xET8c9G3OI5s~qWFLYuvYrtEqgvONXN0Y0QUuvanadTExDBlSg6nXjDU6yp4pg3G~JykMS8vD7vTH6qvdyrJ4nNOk0j3LPmaN8ym49RkRBp9U7EWiA-vcJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two residents used the public-comment period at the Pulaski County Quorum Court meeting on Aug. 26, 2025 to press the court for clearer timelines and protections for property owners following recent changes to extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) authority.

What residents said

- Brenda Henson, a county resident, asked whether the court has a timeline or plan for guidelines to protect property owners now that the county is no longer under the city's five-mile ETJ control. She described concerns such as unauthorized dumping and improvised structures that can affect neighboring properties and asked whether the court would publish interim guidance to reassure residents while a longer planning process proceeds.

- Wendell Griffin, another resident, said the time available after the state law change was too short for the planning department to act and that earlier anticipation and outreach would have been preferable. He noted the statutory timeline tied to the ETJ change and urged the court to have anticipated and mitigated risks to unincorporated-area residents.

How officials responded

- The court's chair and others said the court had called a special meeting earlier to consider the issue after ETJ changes and that the county had temporarily restored previous ETJ regulations \"for at least the next five and a half months\" (as stated in the meeting record) while further planning work proceeds.

- Officials and staff said the Planning Department is conducting a land-use study for unincorporated areas to inform where certain uses may be restricted or allowed. The court noted that creating a full code comparable to Little Rock's would be a lengthy process and encouraged residents to engage in planning-board meetings and follow county communications.

Information and contact points cited at the meeting

- The court said county communications and the county website and social media are used to publish notices and updates; residents were encouraged to check those resources for planning updates.

- County staff also told residents that Public Works can be contacted to report potential violations or concerns in unincorporated areas; the number cited in the meeting record was 340-6800.

- The Planning Board meets in the same room on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m., and residents were invited to participate.

Why it matters

County residents in unincorporated areas said they need timely guidance and enforcement to protect property values and neighborhood conditions. County officials acknowledged both the short statutory timeline created by the ETJ change and the limited capacity of the Planning Department; officials encouraged public participation and said more formal land-use guidance would follow through the planning-board process.

","During public comment at the Aug. 26, 2025 Pulaski County Quorum Court meeting, residents raised concerns about the end of extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) protections, asked for guidance for unincorporated-area property owners, and requested better communications while the planning department and planning board work on land-use guidance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Consultant tells Pulaski County court salary schedule lags market; recommends opening ranges, annual adjustments and HR oversight

Pulaski County Quorum Court approves resolutions and budget ordinances, including planning-board appointment and CASA grant appropriation

Residents urge Pulaski County court for clearer guidance after extraterritorial-jurisdiction change; officials point to planning process and outreach