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Little Rock board adopts 2025 budget after tentative firefighter agreement and public pleas
Summary
The Little Rock City Board approved the 2025 budget on third reading Dec. 26 after the mayor said firefighters had tentatively accepted a negotiated offer; an amendment to eliminate five mayor’s-office positions failed amid robust public comment defending those roles.
Mayor Scott said deputies had reached a tentative agreement with the fire department and urged the board to approve a balanced 2025 budget, which the board passed after debate and public comment.
The board’s third and final reading of the ordinance to adopt the 2025 budget came amid last-minute labor developments. Mayor Scott told the board that a monetary issue that had arisen in firefighter negotiations earlier that morning had been resolved and that "the raises will match each other," describing the police offer as "1 year contract of 5%, 2 year contract of 5% in both years, and the fire rule will resemble exactly that." He also said implementation of the 4896 schedule would require a 70% workforce vote.
Why it matters: The meeting combined two high-stakes items — final adoption of the operating budget and an ongoing labor negotiation with public-safety employees — and drew many residents to the podium to press the board on safety, staffing and education positions.
Debate and amendment: Director Hines…
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