Council approves volunteer committees to prepare pro and con statements for change-of-government measures

City staff told the Benton City Council on Aug. 3 that it must appoint pro and con committees for two upcoming change-of-government ballot measures to meet a statutory filing deadline. Staff said explanatory statements and a cover sheet identifying the law and the amount associated with each measure must be filed under a tight schedule.

"The authority ... shall, not later than the resolution deadline, which is tomorrow, formally appoint a committee to prepare arguments advocating voters approval of the measure, and shall formally appoint a committee to prepare arguments advocating voters rejection of the measure," staff stated when summarizing the statutory requirement. After discussion, council moved and approved the names submitted for a pro committee and later appointed named volunteers to a related committee. The transcript records verbal approval ('All in favor') but does not include a detailed roll-call tally in the meeting record.

Council and staff emphasized timing: staff reminded members that the first explanatory statement must be ready under a 10‑day schedule with a five‑day rebuttal window, creating a short timeframe for the appointed committees to meet filing deadlines. The council asked staff to coordinate meeting times for committee members so the initial statements can be drafted and submitted on schedule.