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Pulaski County Quorum Court adopts 2026 budget after amendment limiting elected officials' raises
Summary
At the October meeting, the Pulaski County Quorum Court adopted the county budget for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026, approving an amendment that asks elected county officers and justices of the peace to forego pay increases when raises are not provided for all eligible county employees. The amendment and the final budget both passed on roll call votes.
At its October meeting, the Pulaski County Quorum Court adopted an ordinance providing a budget for Pulaski County for the period beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and ending Dec. 31, 2026. The court approved Ordinance 25 I 71 as amended by Amendment No. 1.
The amendment, introduced and explained by Justice Stowers, says that “elected county officers and justice of the peace shall forego any salary or compensation increases, which by the way are set by the state, when salary or compensation increases are not provided for all eligible county employees.” Justice Stowers read the amendment on the floor before the court voted.
The amendment was adopted on roll call (14 ayes, 1 absent). The court then voted to adopt Ordinance 25 I 71 as amended; the roll-call tally was recorded as 14 ayes, 1 absent. Sponsors listed on the amendment included Justice Stowers, Justice Blackwood, Justice Keith, Justice Massey, Justice McCoy and Justice Robinson.
The budget ordinance as read provides the county budget for the 2026 fiscal period (01/01/2026–12/31/2026). The court’s action follows committee review: the budget committee had reported on items including 25 I 71 earlier in the meeting. The ordinance and amendment text, as read into the record by the clerk, did not specify dollar totals for the portion of the budget affected by the amendment; specific line-item amounts were not provided during the floor discussion.
Because the amendment restricts salary increases for certain elected officials when general employee increases are not provided, it alters how compensation increases will be applied under the adopted budget going forward. The amendment’s text attributes statutory salary-setting authority to the state; Justice Stowers referenced that point during his explanation.
Action details: Ordinance 25 I 71 (2026 budget) was adopted as amended. Vote tally on final adoption: 14 ayes, 1 absent.
What’s next: The ordinance covers the county budget period beginning Jan. 1, 2026; the court did not specify additional administrative steps or implementation dates beyond the budget period in the recorded floor remarks.
