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Commissioners vote to keep school 'maintenance of effort' funding after heated exchange
Summary
Benton County commissioners approved a resolution committing to maintain or increase local school funding for fiscal year 2021–22; the vote followed a dispute that included a commissioner being ruled out of order and a failed motion to restore that commissioner’s vote.
Benton County commissioners on March 15 voted to keep local "maintenance of effort" funding for the Benton County School District at least equal to the current year, approving RESOLUTION 20210315-03 after an acrimonious debate.
The resolution, sponsored by Commissioners Mike Nunnery, Rosanne Ward, Gary Furr and Sonny Hall and advanced by Commissioner Melton, states the board will provide funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, equal to or greater than the funding for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021 to prevent unlawful supplanting of local funds. The motion to approve passed by roll call, 11 Ayes, 1 Nay and 3 Absent.
The item drew contention when Commissioner Presson was ruled out of order and barred from voting. Commissioner Frazier asked that Presson be removed from the meeting and then left the meeting at 7:15 p.m. A later motion by Commissioner Plant to allow Presson to return and vote failed on roll call, 7 Ayes, 8 Nays and 3 Absent. The record shows the original resolution nevertheless carried.
Supporters said the resolution was intended to protect staffing and operations in the school district amid COVID-19 enrollment shifts; the text notes enrollment decreases during 2020–21 and warns that reductions to local maintenance funding could disrupt staffing. The resolution was presented to the commission after discussion from several members; the transcript does not record additional formal amendments to the measure.
The commission did not adopt measures changing the dollar amounts in the school budget at this meeting; the resolution is a statement of the board's intent on FY2021–22 maintenance-of-effort funding. Commissioner Frazier's departure and the procedural dispute were recorded in the meeting minutes. The commission proceeded with other agenda business after the vote.
