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Finance committee approves RFQ route for county compensation study after one dissent
Summary
Benton County finance committee voted to treat a compensation-assessment and pay-plan preparation contract as a professional service and pursue an RFQ (qualifications-based selection) so the county can complete a salary study in time for the 2027 budget; one justice voted no.
The Benton County Finance Committee on Feb. 10 voted to declare a planned compensation-assessment and pay-plan-preparation contract a professional service and seek vendors via an RFQ rather than a price-only bid, a move its backers said is designed to secure a more comprehensive, market-accurate salary study.
The measure, moved by Justice Dunn and seconded by Justice Farmer, passed after discussion about cost, timing and procurement philosophy. Chair called the vote and Justice Rizzler registered the lone dissent; the resolution carried.
Committee members said the county needs a finished plan by June to inform the next budget cycle. The judge’s office and finance staff emphasized that the RFQ process will evaluate qualifications and allow negotiations with the top-ranked firm before price enters the selection.
"This will really draw a line in the sand for the overall compensation structure for the county," said the county judge, arguing the study should cover pay grades, job descriptions and benefits benchmarking against public-sector peers.
Opponents cautioned it can add cost compared with a price-based bid. One justice noted that Fayetteville's recent, broader compensation project ran in the neighborhood of $170,000–$178,000 and that implementation could require substantially more money beyond the study's outputs.
Committee members said the measure is intended to ensure a thorough product: an RFQ lets evaluators check references, inspect prior deliverables and interview finalists before negotiating price with the top-ranked candidate. The committee also asked staff to provide Fayetteville's scope and cost details to set local expectations.
The committee approved the resolution and will forward the professional-service declaration and related documents to the full quorum court for final action. The committee record shows the judge and staff expect to return with any needed appropriations and implementation steps after the vendor is selected.
