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Planning and zoning asks for new planner as county growth increases; Jonesboro cooperation discussed
Summary
Planning staff asked the commission to approve a new planner position to handle growth, an upcoming comprehensive plan update and increased coordination with Jonesboro; operating expenses were reduced in the request but the salary line shows a larger rise because of the new position.
Angie Charles and Scott Chapman presented the Planning and Zoning Department’s FY‑26 budget request to the Washington County Board of Commissioners and asked the commission to consider funding a proposed new planner position to handle increased permit and planning workloads.
Charles told commissioners the salary totals appear to rise more than 3% because the request includes a new planner position; without that new hire the existing positions reflect roughly the requested 3% pay adjustment. She said county population has increased about 15% since 2010 and the planning workload has outgrown the hours available to current staff. Charles said the county also needs a comprehensive plan update covering land use and transportation and that the town of Jonesboro has expressed interest in coordinating planning and stormwater work with the county, which could create a recurring contribution from the town to offset part of the new position’s cost.
Scott Chapman explained that code‑compliance workload rose after recent flooding and the office has used temporary agency staff since December; the proposed permanent position would replace that temporary support. Chapman said many permit, inspection and phone volumes have increased and that additional incidental operating costs appear in the budget because of the new staff request.
Why it matters: commissioners were presented with a staffing request that ties to observable population growth, flood‑recovery workloads and an upcoming comprehensive plan update; the request could be partially offset by intergovernmental contributions from Jonesboro but no formal agreement was presented.
Discussion vs. decision: commissioners asked how much Jonesboro might contribute; planning staff said that amount was not yet specified. No formal budget appropriation or agreement with Jonesboro was finalized at the workshop.
Ending: Planning staff will follow up with more precise costing and any proposed contribution terms with Jonesboro for commission consideration during later budget sessions.
