Benton County Quorum Court Postpones Vote on Regional Industrial Development Authority to Feb. 26

Benton County’s quorum court on Dec. 18 postponed a final vote on an ordinance that would have directed the county judge to petition the circuit court to create a Northwest Arkansas Regional Industrial and Technology Development Authority under Act 5 76 of 2025, voting 12–2 to take up the matter on Feb. 26, 2026.

The item drew a packed public-comment period and extended debate. Brandon Ginglebach, president of the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, told the court the IDA would let the region access private industrial revenue bonds without using taxpayer dollars, saying, “This involves no taxpayer dollars whatsoever” and urging the court to support creation of the authority to spur job growth and keep local firms from relocating.

Several justices said they supported the concept but wanted more time or additional guarantees about county oversight. “I still don’t have enough information to vote yes tonight,” Justice Brian Armas said, adding that the court needs clearer mechanisms for proportional representation and for removing a board member “if we find that a member of that body isn’t acting in the best interest of our county.” Justice Armas moved to postpone the ordinance to a later date so the concerns could be addressed.

Justice Joel Jones opened the item by reading a letter from Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders stating the administration’s support for a collaborative IDA among Benton, Washington and Madison counties. County staff and outside advisers, including Ron (last name on record as Ron Maloney), described draft operating agreements and petitions; Maloney offered to host working sessions and said existing drafts include an operating-agreement provision to allow a county to withdraw under defined circumstances.

Court members discussed representation on a proposed multi-county board (variously described during debate as 3–3–1, 4–4–1 or similar) and potential limits to local oversight under the state law. Justices pressed for draft documents — the operating agreement, petition and bylaws — to be circulated and discussed at a January Committee of the Whole meeting so the court could return informed to the Feb. 26 quorum session.

The motion to postpone to the Feb. 26, 2026 quorum court meeting carried on roll call 12 ayes, 2 nays, 1 absent. The judge directed staff to distribute draft documents to the clerk’s office for circulation and indicated the court would try to hold focused working sessions in January to address outstanding questions before the February vote.

Next steps: the court set a Committee of the Whole discussion for January and asked county staff to distribute draft petition, operating agreement and bylaws ahead of that meeting. The ordinance remains on the table; no judicial petition has yet been filed with the circuit clerk.