Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Little Rock council adopts 2026 city budget after debate over nonprofit cuts and retirees' pensions
Summary
The North Little Rock City Council voted to adopt the city’s 2026 fiscal-year budget after debate over reduced nonprofit allocations and a request to study whether older retirees can be rolled into a newer pension plan; officials said $500,000 was restored to address some requests.
The North Little Rock City Council voted to adopt the city’s 2026 fiscal‑year budget following extended discussion about cuts to nonprofit partners and questions about pensions for older retirees.
Council member Hamilton pressed for clarity on special appropriations and said older retirees had asked whether they could be rolled into the city’s newer pension program. Hamilton said he had heard conflicting accounts about whether retirees had been offered a choice years ago and asked the council to "look at and see" whether a study could determine the cost of rolling them into the current plan.
CFO Amber Strange told the council an actuarial study "will not support a raise" for those retirees because of the plan’s unfunded liability and that the actuary would advise contribution increases before any cost-of-living adjustments. Strange said a change in accounting rules in the early 2010s significantly increased measured liabilities for defined-benefit plans.
Mayor Hartwick and staff said they had reviewed recent sales-tax receipts and that staff felt comfortable returning roughly $500,000 to the draft to accommodate some funding requests. Council members debated restorations for specific nonprofits and line items; council member Hamilton highlighted that some organizations had received $85,000 in prior years while proposed allocations were substantially lower this year.
The council discussed a $10,000 allocation intended to support Officer Cobb’s unsheltered programs and other targeted items. After debate, members moved and seconded the resolution to adopt the 2026 budget; the motion passed in a recorded vote.
Council members who spoke during the debate included Hamilton, who raised the pension and nonprofit concerns; Amber Strange, who provided fiscal explanations; and Mayor Hartwick, who described revenue analysis and restorations. The council indicated further review or studies could be pursued to address retirees’ concerns.
The resolution (R25199) adopting the city budget was approved; council members were recorded in the public roll call at the time of the vote. The council adjourned after routine closing remarks and holiday announcements.
