Desha County court amends then tables 2021 budget ordinance, schedules follow-up budget meeting

DESHA COUNTY — The Desha County Quorum Court amended the county's proposed 2021 budget and then tabled the ordinance for further consideration at its Jan. 21 meeting.

County Clerk Chief Deputy Kimberly Clay-Mitchell read Ordinance 2021-1 in full and Judge Richard Tindall read the Desha County 2021 budget to the court. During discussion, JP 4 Gene Weser moved to amend the budget to include a 3% salary increase and related fixed charges; JP 3 Patricia Watkins seconded the amendment. The court voted in favor and the amendment passed.

After the amendment, JP 4 Gene Weser moved to table Ordinance 2021-1 until the next Quorum Court meeting; JP 3 Patricia Watkins seconded the motion and the court voted to table the ordinance. The court also approved a motion to hold a budget meeting at 10:00 a.m. immediately before the next 1:30 p.m. Quorum Court meeting to continue budget deliberations.

Why it matters: The amendment would increase employee pay and fixed charges within the county's fiscal plan for 2021; tabling the ordinance gives the court additional time to review budget details in a dedicated meeting.

Procedural details and next steps: The motion to amend the budget was made by JP 4 Gene Weser and seconded by JP 3 Patricia Watkins; the motion to table Ordinance 2021-1 was made by the same members and passed. The court set a separate budget meeting at 10:00 a.m. before the next Quorum Court session to finalize the ordinance. The transcript records that "all were in favor" for the votes but does not list a roll-call tally by name for every member present.