Council votes to send government-form question to voters, sets proposed effective date

The Benton City Council voted on July 8 to submit a ballot question asking voters whether the city should abandon its mayor–council form of government and adopt a council–manager form, directing staff to submit required documents to the county by the Aug. 4 deadline and proposing an effective date of Jan. 1, 2027 if voters approve.

Committee member (Speaker 3) moved to submit Resolution 2026-46. Staff (Staff member) reviewed the county timetable, noting the county elections office requires the resolution and related materials by Aug. 4 and that an explanatory statement (up to 200 words) and a committee roster for pro/con committees must be filed. Staff recommended language allowing non-substantive revisions by the city attorney or prosecuting attorney as part of the routine ballot-title review process.

Staff also noted uncertainty about whether an explicit effective date is required in the resolution and recommended including Jan. 1, 2027 as an effective date to avoid timing ambiguities; the staff comment referenced state statutory provisions as written in the packet. After discussion and a technical amendment, the council passed the resolution to forward the question to the county for placement on the November general-election ballot.

The council’s action authorizes staff to complete the required explanatory statement and to submit the ballot-title materials and committee roster by the county deadline; the measure will proceed if certified in the normal election process.