Court to consider wage, new position freeze

Citing economic conditions, the Faulkner County Budget and Finance Committee passed a resolution Tuesday night to inform county government agencies that new or additional money for employee positions will not be appropriated by the Quorum Court.

The resolution states that "as a result of the current economic conditions, the county's financial integrity could be potentially compromised... The (Quorum Court) recognizes the need to retain, for the benefit of the county's constituents, a significant amount of money to ensure the continued offerings of public benefits."

County Judge Preston Scroggin said the resolution won't keep the county from filling vacant positions that are necessary, but will restrict the court from funding new positions or authorizing pay increases for existing county employees.

The resolution states that the positions or pay increases "from county general or the criminal justice sales tax (funds) will not be appropriated with the exception of those circumstances deemed emergencies by the Quorum Court."

The committee also approved an appropriation of $500,000 from the county road sales tax to begin road surfacing projects in the county.

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The committee also approved the appropriation of $38,350 to fill a vacant position in the county judge's office, which has been vacant since last year.

The committee passed a resolution to allow First Orion Corp., a new technology company that located in Conway, to participate in the Targeted Tax Back Program. Similar resolutions have been passed for Hewlett-Packard, Southwestern Energy and other businesses coming to the county.

The committee passed a resolution allowing the county to participate in a federal grant program that helps fund law enforcement positions. The grant, COPS Hiring Recovery Program, will provide 100 percent funding for "approved entry-level salaries and benefits for three years for newly hired, full-time sworn officer positions or for rehired officers who have been laid off, or are scheduled to be laid off ... as a result of local budget cuts."

The grant will fund the positions for three years under the condition that the county fund the positions for an additional year. The grant would not pay for salary increases of the officers hired or retained through the grant during the three-year period.

"I'll take three-to-one funding any day," JP Jimmy Bryant said.

The full Quorum Court will address these matters during its full meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the county judge's office on the courthouse campus.