Cleburne County Quorum Court adopts 2026 budget, several ordinances and contract authorizations

Cleburne County Judge Eric Crosby presided over a Nov. 20 meeting of the Cleburne County Quorum Court in Heber Springs where the court adopted the county's 2026 budget and a package of ordinances and resolutions.

The court suspended formal readings and approved Ordinance 2025-23, the appropriations ordinance adopting the Cleburne County budget for 2026. JP Foust introduced the budget ordinance; the measure passed on a roll-call vote with all present justices voting aye.

The court also approved a series of related fiscal and personnel measures. JP Henegar introduced an amendment ordinance to re-appropriate funds for jail, aging and road accounts (Ordinance 2025-22), which passed on a unanimous roll call. JP Evans presented an ordinance establishing the number of non-elected county positions and starting salaries (Ordinance 2025-24); JP Malone introduced and the court adopted an ordinance establishing authorized salaries per employee (Ordinance 2025-25) and approved a clerical correction to two Indigent/Public Defender Contract Labor lines to read $7,580.00.

JP Moorehead read and the court adopted Ordinance 2025-26, which establishes the millage rates for 2026.

The court also authorized the county judge to enter into a contract with SouthBuild. JP Evans introduced the resolution authorizing the contract (Resolution 2025-11); the resolution was adopted unanimously.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2025-10: Authorizing the County Clerk to notify the White River Regional Library of Cleburne County Library's departure — adopted (roll call: Ayes: Baugh, Beavers, Evans, Fletcher, Foust, Henegar, Malone, Martin, McClung, Moorehead, Tamburo; Nays: none). (Introduced by JP Martin.) - Resolution 2025-11: Authorizing the judge to enter contract with SouthBuild — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Evans.) - Ordinance 2025-22: Amendment to 2025 budget (Jail, Aging, Road) — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Henegar.) - Ordinance 2025-23: 2026 appropriation ordinance (budget) — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Foust.) - Ordinance 2025-24: Positions and starting salaries for non-elected county positions — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Evans.) - Ordinance 2025-25: Maximum salary per employee (incl. correction to indigent/public defender contract labor lines) — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Malone.) - Ordinance 2025-26: Establishing millage rates for 2026 — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Moorehead.) - Ordinance 2025-27: Authorizing interlocal cooperative agreements regarding dispatching services (amended to add Appendix A showing formula; quarterly city meetings to review finances) — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Evans.) - Ordinance 2025-28: Refer Pine Snag Lobo Fire Association service-area ballot question to voters pursuant to Arkansas Code A7 14-20-108 (language amended to remove the words "levy and") — adopted (roll call: unanimous). (Introduced by JP Foust.)

What this means: The adopted budget and millage ordinance set the county's revenue and spending framework for 2026; the personnel ordinances fix the number of non-elected positions and starting pay levels. The interlocal dispatching ordinance adds a formal framework for cost-sharing with municipalities and requires quarterly meetings to review finances.

The court recorded unanimous roll-call votes on the listed measures. Where motions and seconds were recorded in the proceedings, they are noted above by the JP who introduced the measure and the JP who seconded it. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Next step: The court will implement the adopted 2026 budget and follow the interlocal dispatching agreement process; specific implementation tasks and department assignments were not detailed in the meeting minutes.