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Benton council approves series of grants, a school resource officer contract and keeps tax millage unchanged
Summary
At its June 26 meeting the Benton City Council approved multiple grant applications and contracts — including a Hazard Mitigation grant application and a school resource officer placement — and passed the annual ad valorem tax ordinance without raising millage.
The Benton City Council on June 26 adopted a package of resolutions and an annual tax ordinance that officials said funds ongoing programs and seeks outside grant support for local projects.
The council approved Resolution 27 of 2026, accepting an amendment to a certified local government grant tied to historic preservation, authorizing a contract with Elos (contract amount not to exceed $25,000) and amending the 2026 general fund budget. During discussion a council member said the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program increased available funds to $33,000 and that $25,000 was designated for a required survey while remaining funds would pay travel for the chair and Jason Lyon to a conference; the official resolution language read $16,000 (see clarifying details). The council voted to adopt the resolution; the clerk announced the measure passed, reported as 8 to 2.
The council next adopted Resolution 28 of 2026 authorizing the mayor and the chief of police to apply for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funding. Committee remarks said the grant request would purchase chairs and desks for a police training room. The council approved the resolution by a voice/roll-call vote reported as 8 to 2.
Resolution 29 of 2026 passed to authorize a contract with the Saline County Career Technical Campus to place one school resource officer for the 2026-27 school year. A committee member said the school covers about 73.5% of the officer’s cost and that the officer will assist with traffic during shared scheduling at Mountain View. The clerk reported the resolution passed 8 to 2.
Resolution 30 of 2026, authorizing application for an Arkansas Hazard Mitigation Grant Program award of up to $300,000 (a 75/25 cost-share) to address drainage concerns in the Western Woods subdivision, was approved. City staff explained that if the grant is awarded, the municipality’s share would be approximately $75,000 on a $300,000 project. The resolution passed as announced by the clerk, 8 to 2.
On ordinances, the council read and adopted Ordinance 34 of 2026 levying ad valorem taxes for tax year 2026: 2.8 mills for general municipal purposes and 1.0 mill for the Firemen’s Pension and Relief Fund. The mayor addressed public inquiries, stating the levy “is the same as it’s been for the last eight years” and that the vote does not increase millage; the council approved the ordinance by a vote reported as 8 to 2.
The meeting closed with additional committee business and announcements about July 3 community events; no members of the public offered comment during the public comment period.
What’s next: Several of the items approved are grant applications that require later administrative steps. If the Hazard Mitigation grant or Byrne JAG funds are awarded, the council will return for contract approval or budget amendments as required by law.
(Reporting note: Where the spoken discussion differs from the text of the adopted measure — for example, the CLG grant amount discussed versus the language read into the record — the article notes both the resolution text and the council discussion. Vote outcomes are recorded as the clerk announced them in the meeting.)
