The Faulkner County Budget and Finance Committee voted to advance proposed ordinance 25-29, which funds a one-time pay increase of $400 for full-time employees and $200 for part-time employees, to the full court on Oct. 31.

A Justice of the Peace moved to put ordinance 25-29 on the table for discussion. County Judge Dodson addressed the committee, describing the measure as a one-time payment intended to recognize employees without creating ongoing salary obligations. “One time pay increase, you're very familiar with that. I'm in full support of continuing that,” Judge Dodson said, adding that the county treats the payment more like a seasonal/one-time bonus than an ongoing raise.

Judge Dodson and staff walked committee members through a worksheet showing the transfer amounts and fund sources. He said the worksheet’s bottom section showed a transfer amount of $29,192 to fund the one-time payments and cited amounts by affected fund lines (county general, library, and other funds were referenced on the worksheet). Margaret, described in the meeting as the county clerk’s secretary who prepared the worksheet, and other staff were available to answer detailed accounting questions.

After brief questions, the committee advanced 25-29 to the full court by voice vote. The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The ordinance as discussed on the record specifies the $400 / $200 one-time payments and identifies the required transfers on the worksheet; final appropriation language and fund-specific transfers will be confirmed in the full-court packet.