Pope County treasurer reports strong collections; committee advances personnel-policy update and approves multiple grant appropriations

Pope County's personnel and budget committee met July 7 and heard a monthly financial report from Treasurer Larry Holman, who said gross sales and use tax receipts for June totaled $518,479 and that year-to-date revenue stood at roughly 112.51% of projection. Holman also reported prisoner-care revenue of $92,862 and an annual payment in lieu of taxes from the Ozark National Forest of $644,480.

"Gross sales and use tax for the general fund for June were $518,479," Holman told the committee. He cautioned that rebates and audits affect direct year-over-year comparisons, but said collections are up compared with the prior year in dollar terms.

The committee considered an ordinance to amend the county personnel policies (dated Dec. 10, 2019) to conform with recent federal DOT guidance on reasonable suspicion for drug testing. County counsel/HR (Ben Cross) explained the change removes the county's prior automatic post-accident drug-test presumption and requires supervisors to establish reasonable suspicion before ordering a test. The chair called for a motion to move the ordinance to the full court; members made a motion, it was seconded, and the committee approved advancing the ordinance by voice vote.

Committee members approved several appropriations by voice vote during the meeting:

- Election Commission: a state-reimbursable expense was approved for appropriation (request described as reimbursable to the county).

- Juvenile Probation: Amber Bryant asked the committee to appropriate an AOC grant to purchase drug screens and supplies for the juvenile drug court; the request passed.

- District Court/Courthouse Security: Judge Ben Cross described an $18,000 courthouse security grant to buy upgrades, including a metal detector for district court; the appropriation passed and staff said preconstruction work would begin near Labor Day.

- County Special Projects/Flag Fund: Judge Cross said the county would appropriate roughly $4,000 from its flag fund for preventive maintenance and replacement flags, and approved transfers of antiquated equipment to Pulaski Technical College for student training and transfers of decommissioned vehicles to local entities.

Each of the above measures passed on voice votes; the meeting record shows "Aye" responses but does not include roll-call tallies.

Next steps: the personnel and budget committee voted to forward the personnel-policy amendment to the full court for formal consideration on Thursday. Staff will process the approved appropriations and follow county procurement rules for transfers and purchases.