Pulaski County comptroller outlines 2026 budget outlook; court approves grants and forwards dozens of budgets

Pulaski County Comptroller Hutch told the Quorum Court on Thursday that preliminary 2026 budget projections are stable but flagged several items that justices must address, including a one‑time payroll timing issue, changes in grant revenue and possible costs tied to a recent state law change.

Hutch said the county renegotiated an insurance rebate, giving up an approximately $450,000 rebate in exchange for a $1,600,000 rebate, producing a net improvement of about $1,100,000 that he said will be applied to the county's health insurance fund. He also warned of a separate revenue impact from a state law change that he estimated could cost the county about $1,200,000 a year, which he said would largely offset the rebate gain.

The comptroller told justices the county will face 27 payrolls in the calendar year because of how pay dates fall, not the usual 26, and said he will bring an appropriation ordinance to cover the payroll timing, noting much of the money will return as carryover the following week. He also reported that the county's contingency balance is about $5,063,017 and that the proposed total budget is just over $105,000,000.

The meeting included an extended discussion about whether to…