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Committee raises county surplus-sale threshold to $5,000 amid public notice concerns
Summary
House Bill 1376 raises the dollar threshold allowing county judges to dispose of surplus property without broader approval from $2,000 to $5,000; supporters said the change reduces advertising costs, while a public commenter warned it could reduce transparency.
The Senate City, County & Local Affairs Committee on Feb. 14 approved House Bill 1376, which raises the threshold for county judges to dispose of surplus property without additional board action from $2,000 to $5,000.
Mark Whitmore of the Association of Arkansas Counties told the committee the bill does not change advertising requirements or the three-fourths-of-appraised-value rule; it simply raises the dollar amount below which county judges may proceed with disposition without incurring costly newspaper advertising for modest items. "We're really trying to eliminate the cost of the newspaper," Whitmore said, arguing that sometimes advertising costs can exceed the revenue from a small sale.
Senators asked detailed questions about how the public would learn of Internet-based auctions and whether the change reduces transparency. Paul Calvert, who identified himself as a private citizen and not a paid lobbyist, testified that increasing the threshold and relying on Internet vendors could make it harder for county residents to know when property is being sold: "That's a pretty significant jump," he said of moving the limit from $2,000 to $5,000.
Supporters responded that counties can use county websites, GovDeals and commercial vendors (IronPlanet, Wilson/Blackman auctioneers), and that the three-fourths requirement remains. After discussion and public comment, the committee passed the bill by voice vote.
