Committees meet to discuss possible millage increases

The Faulkner County Quorum Court's Finance and Administration Committee met Tuesday and voted 3-2 in favor of sending a request to the full court next week to increase the county's millage tax to 5 mills, beginning in 2009.

Justice Jimmy Bryant suggested the county increase the millage from the current 3.6 mills to 5 mills in order to make needed repairs to the Faulkner County Courthouse.

Justices also suggested that the money from the increase be sequestered the Grounds and Maintenace department so that the funds could only be used for the purpose of the improvements. If passed, the increase would have to be voted on by the court each year to continue receiving 5 mills after 2009.

Justice Dianna Kellar voiced opposition to the increase citing not only the impeding rise in gas rates, but that the timing of the proposed increase does not allow taxpayers to vote on the millage.

"No one wants to raise taxes, but sometimes you are put in a position where there are serious needs at the county level," Justice Jimmy Bryant said. "We have a serious situation with the courthouse and the shape it's in."

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"We've got a real problem. It's a terrible way to fix it, but it's the only way to fix it. ... I'm happy we held off as long as we could. I wish we could hold out for another 20 years, but we can't," Justice Jonnie Wells added.

Repairs needed include immediate repair of the courthouses roof, and the courthouse, which is registered as a historical landmark, also needs replacement of the facility's plumbing and electrical systems.

Justice Dan Thessing said the building is in need of possibly $200,000 in repairs.

The increase will come before the full Quorum Court Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the courthouse.

The Finance and Administration Committee also voted to appropriate $18,000 at next week's meeting for temporary repair of the facility's roof, which has many leaks.

The majority of the funds needed will go to replacing the roof over the elevator hallway, which County Administrator Jeff Johnston said was "so rotten that they're going to have to tear off the entire roof and replace it all together."

Also in the ordinance are appropriations of $2,584.40 to the Drug Control Fund, a $35,000 transfer to 911 for machinery and equipment, and appropriations and transfers for a one-time bonus for county employees.

The Courts and Safety committee also met with Greg Huff to discuss the creation of a countywide fire department.

Huff said he wanted the Quorum Court to consider creating the department to provide better fire coverage to county residents and to improve their fire ratings for insurance purposes. Huff said there were hundreds of houses in Faulkner County that were more than five miles from a fire station, and that many residents were suffering increased rates on insurance for poor fire ratings because of this.

Huff also said that it would eliminate the problem of having houses fall under one fire department's district when there were actually other fire departments closer.

(Staff writer Monica Hooper can be reached by e-mail at monica.hooper@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1266. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)