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Finance committee advances 2026 budget after disputes over step pay and sheriff positions
Summary
The Finance & Budget Committee advanced the 2026 county budget to the full quorum court after adopting an amendment to make all county employees eligible for the step compensation plan and rejecting attempts to move maintenance positions out of the sheriff’s budget.
The Washington County Finance & Budget Committee voted to advance the draft 2026 annual budget to the full quorum court on Nov. 12 after a series of amendments and extended debate over personnel, capital requests and benefit costs.
Comptroller Sherman and county staff outlined the proposed totals and pressures: the overall county budget request was presented at roughly $129 million, with notable increases driven by projected health insurance costs that the comptroller said would add roughly $1.2 million to next year’s labor expense. Unappropriated general‑fund reserves were described as modest (~$1.7 million on the formal reserve line) with additional multi‑fund reserves available for contingencies.
A key amendment the committee adopted placed every county employee on the step compensation plan: the court added a sentence to the budget ordinance stating that "all county employees are eligible to participate in the step compensation plan." Committee members debated whether some positions funded or traditionally supported by the state (prosecuting attorney and public defender offices) should be included; counsel and staff clarified county‑hired positions participating in county payroll and benefits would qualify.
The committee rejected a proposal to transfer three maintenance positions (maintenance manager and two sheriff maintenance technicians) from the sheriff’s budget to the county judge’s buildings and grounds budget after legal and operational discussion. Supporters of transfer cited a legal opinion from the Association of Arkansas Counties that maintenance positions are properly housed under the county judge’s custody of county property; opponents raised operational and personnel concerns and urged caution and further legal review.
Other contested amendments included a proposed $474,000 reduction in a sheriff capital line tied to COVID‑mitigation/facility work; the request to cut that capital appropriation failed on a voice vote.
What’s next: The committee sent the budget package and related ordinances to the full quorum court with a do‑pass recommendation and created a consent agenda for several items (items 11–17) to streamline full‑court consideration. Several departments were asked to supply clarifying information on health‑insurance projections and grant match requirements ahead of full court action.
