Oct 13, 2022 Budget Committee Meeting

[00:00:04]

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? AND WOULD YOU BE QUIET? SEVEN MEMBERS PRESENT.

AWESOME, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND CONDUCT BUSINESS.

BUT FIRST, CAN I GET AN APPROVAL ON OUR MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING?

[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANY NAYS.

MOVING ON, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW BY OUR COMPTROLLER AND SEE IF HE CAN GET THE SAME A BETTER RESPONSE

[4. DEPARTMENT BUDGETS FOR CONSIDERATION:]

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OH, YOU'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS.

THE COUNTY'S IN A VERY STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION.

YOUR TOTAL INCREASES THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED OF THIS COURT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA THAT ARE AROUND 360,000, ROUGHLY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD YEAR FOR YOU ALL.

SO I KNOW YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO CAUSE YOU A WHOLE LOT OF HEARTBURN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE NICKEL AND DIME ON THIS.

WE'RE IN A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION, SO DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE.

THANK YOU. JUSTICE TOWERS, YOU RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. MASSEY.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

HAVE BEEN WITH ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATE AS WELL AS GOVERNMENTAL, THAT ARE NOT IN THE SPOT THAT WE'RE IN.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT FOR THAT GOOD REPORT.

AND I WANT TO SAY THIS.

THAT KIND OF REPORTING DOESN'T HAPPEN AFTER A PANDEMIC, AFTER AN EPIDEMIC.

AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A COUNTY WITHOUT STRONG LEADERSHIP AT EVERY LEVEL OF THIS ORGANIZATION, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, WITHOUT STRONG LEADERSHIP BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE, JUDICIAL AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF PULASKI COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

I DO, THOUGH, WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE START THINKING FORWARD.

AND IF THESE VERY GREEN YEARS, GREEN AND LEAN WOULD CONTINUE TO PROJECT THEMSELVES AND TO BE WHAT THEY ARE, THEN AT SOME POINT I'M GOING TO BE ASKING THE QUESTION OF THE COMPTROLLER AND OF MR. LEGAL COUNSEL.

IF WE'RE BRINGING IN A LOT MORE TAX DOLLARS THAN WHAT WE'RE SPENDING, WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES, WHAT ARE OUR AVAILABLE AVAILABILITIES AS A COURT? AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE CRINGING RIGHT NOW CRINGE, GO AHEAD CRINGE.

THIS IS WHAT I PROMISED TO DO 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I RAN FOR THIS OFFICE.

AND IF THE REPORTS CONTINUE TO BE THIS PEACHY AND THIS GOOD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THEN I THINK WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT, WELL, ARE WE COLLECTING TOO MUCH TAX DOLLARS? AND IS THERE A IS THERE A PROCESS HERE? IS THERE A PLACE HERE? IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR US TO GIVE REVENUE BACK TO THOSE THAT PAY THE BILLS AND THOSE THE TAXPAYERS? SO I WOULD SAY ALL THAT TO SAY.

I MEAN, I'M NOT I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT IN THIS BUDGET, BUT I WOULD SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOW ROSY AND PEACHY AND GOOD AND CREAMY OUR REVENUES AND OUR PROJECTED REVENUES ARE, THINK ABOUT IT THROUGH THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE TAXPAYER OUT THERE WHO'S SCRAPING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES BEFORE TOMORROW OR THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW.

SO I'LL YIELD WITH THAT.

THANK YOU, MASSEY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

CAN I? YES.

YOU RECOGNIZE I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

[00:05:02]

BUT DON'T LET IT GO TO Y'ALL'S HEAD THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH AND YOU ARE IN A GOOD POSITION.

AND I THINK FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS YOU WILL BE IN A SOLID POSITION.

YOU CAN THANK A LOT OF THAT TO LOWER EXPENSE, THANK TO THE ARPA MONEY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOWER OTHER EXPENSES.

REMEMBER WHERE THE REVENUE IS COMING FROM.

YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY COLLECTING A WHOLE LOT MORE.

YOU'RE JUST ABLE TO SHIFT EXPENSES.

OK. ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, WE WILL GET INTO OUR AGENDA.

OUR FIRST DEPARTMENT UP TONIGHT IS A CIRCUIT AND COUNTY CLERK, DEPARTMENT 101.

AND EACH DEPARTMENT, I GUESS, CAN JUST COME FORTH AND BRIEFLY TELL US ABOUT THEIR DEPARTMENT.

AND I GUESS WE'LL TAKE EACH ONE ONE BY ONE, IN REGARDS TO VOTING, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

GOOD AFTERNOON. SO WHEN YOU SAY WHEN I TELL YOU ABOUT YOU, YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU WHY WE HAVE THESE? YES. JUST REQUEST.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M TELLING YOU WHAT I NEED TO TELL YOU.

I'M SORRY. YES. PROCEDURAL PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRY.

JUST ONE MOMENT. YES.

OKAY. SO MY PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURAL QUESTION IS THAT WE KNOW, MADAM CLERK, THAT YOU HAVE SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS.

SO KIND OF WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO SO SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK UP HERE FIVE TIMES IS FOR US TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO ALL FOUR OR FIVE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE YOUR NAME NEXT TO THEM AS THE CONTACT IS JUST ONE.

THE OTHER ONES HAVE BEEN PASSED ALREADY FROM OTHER MOTHERS AND FATHERS.

GOTCHA. NEVER MIND.

YOU MAY PROCEED.

OKAY. SO THE BUDGET INCREASES THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

I'M GOING TO START WITH PRINTING.

WE'RE INCREASING THE PRINTING BY 15,000 BECAUSE OF THE POSTAGE THAT'S DUE FOR THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION MAIL OUT, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO BE COMPLETED EVERY TWO YEARS, EVERY OTHER YEAR.

UNDER OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WE ARE INCREASING THAT BY $10,000 DUE TO THE GARTER ARMORED CAR SERVICE.

IT'S A MONTHLY CHARGE AND THAT HAS INCREASED FROM $853 TO $1453 PER MONTH.

OUR TELEPHONE AND FAX LANDLINE.

WE'RE INCREASING THE POSTAGE AND UNDER THAT LINE ITEM BY 6500 BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE MONTHLY PHONE CHARGES.

AND THEN FOR POSTAGE, WE ARE INCREASED IN THAT LINE ITEM BY 15,000 BECAUSE OF THE US POSTAL SERVICE RATE INCREASE.

AND IN ADDITION TO THE 2 TO 2023 MN VRA MAILINGS AND NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN 2023 AND THEN TRAVEL, WE ARE INCREASING TRAVEL BY $10,000 TO ALLOW FOR US TO TRAVEL TO SOME NATIONAL MEETINGS LIKE PREA AND NACO. BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.

AND WE. AND ALONG WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO INCREASE COMMON CARRIER BY $10,000 TO ALLOW FOR THAT PARTICULAR TRAVEL AND THEN MEALS AND LODGING, WE'RE INCREASING THAT BY $10,500, AGAIN, TO ALLOW FOR THIS TRAVEL TO THOSE NATIONAL MEETINGS SO THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY LEARN NEW THINGS AND MAKE SURE WE ADVANCE THE OFFICE OF THE CIRCUIT AND COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

REAL QUICK, ABOUT YOUR NACO, I THINK YOU SAY PREA AND NACO, HERE IT JUST SAYS NACO.

BUT ANYWAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL ON THE INCREASED TRAVEL BUDGET THAT WOULD BE TRAVEL [INAUDIBLE] MEALS? HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS DO YOU PREDICT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL? SO WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THREE OR FOUR, BUT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT SIDE OF THE IF THEY'RE ON THE COUNTY SIDE OR CIRCUIT SIDE AND WITH PREA, CERTAINLY THAT DEALS WITH MORE OF THE CIRCUIT SIDE.

BUT IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU GUYS, I GUESS, APPROVED TODAY.

SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT PROJECTS.

SO EVEN WITH THREE PEOPLE, WE'VE SPENT MOST OF OUR BUDGET JUST GOING TO STATEWIDE MEETINGS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE IN TERMS OF GOING TO THE COUNTY CLERK'S MEETING AND THE CIRCUIT CLERK'S MEETING AND ALSO WHAT.

[00:10:11]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

NO. JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU MS. MASSEY. SO, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THAT IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME WHEN I SEE THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTING US AT AT OUR COUNTY, ARKANSAS, AND FEDERAL LEVELS HERE LOCALLY. I MEAN, WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE MR. ELLIOTT SERVE ON THE BOARD THAT HE DOES DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE MADAM CLERK AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN WHAT YOU DO AND THEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE SAME THING.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WHERE I'M GOING IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY LIKE PAUL AND LIKE YOURSELF AND LIKE DEBORAH AND HER HER LIEUTENANTS AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO PROUD TO SEE DEBORAH THERE, SEE JEROME THERE.

IT WHETHER IT'S A STATE MEETING, AC OR WHETHER IT'S ALL JUST FOR WHETHER IT'S A NATIONAL MEETING, IT'S ALWAYS SO REFRESHING TO SEE PULASKI COUNTY SO WELL REPRESENTED.

AND I THINK THE WAY WE GOT TO THIS TRAVEL BUDGET REQUEST IS I ASK YOU AND MARK AND SHERRY A QUESTION.

WHEN WE HAD LUNCH A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I SAID, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO TO NACO? AND YOU SAID, NO.

AND I GOT TO LOOKING BACK, AND YOUR BUDGET HAD NOT BEEN FOR TRAVEL LINES AND COMMON CARRIERS, ETC., HAD NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE PRIOR TO YOUR PREDECESSOR BEING IN OFFICE.

SO I THINK TO ME, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF TRAVEL, THAT YOU HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITH PEOPLE FROM FROM DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF COUNTY AND IN CIRCUIT CLERK LEADERSHIP..

CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, FROM THE RIGHT OF CENTER POINT OF THE AISLE, I ASK THAT THE TRAVEL LINE BE INCREASED BECAUSE I WANT YOUR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT MISS BUCKNER'S FOLKS DO AND WHAT THE ASSESSOR'S FOLKS DOING WITH THE JUDGE'S FOLKS DO, AND THAT IS GO TO THESE STATE AND NATIONAL MEETINGS AND TO LEARN TO GLEAM AND BRING BACK TO PULASKI COUNTY BEST PRACTICES.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN GOING.

YOU KNOW, WE FIRST GOT INTO OFFICE IN 2019 AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.

THEN WE HAD A PANDEMIC.

AND SO THEN AFTER THAT, IN 2021, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO NOW WE'VE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCREASE THOSE LINES SO THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY IN THE NEXT TERM, ADVANCE OUR OFFICE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO MAYBE LEARNING SOME LEADERSHIP SKILLS AS WELL.

THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BE NONE, JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? DO I SAY. DO I SAY I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE A GOOD VOTE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I SAY APPRECIATE IT.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

NO. SO, MATT.

OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M SORRY.

I'M JUMPING. I KNOW I'M JUMPING AHEAD.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE, OR TO MOVE FORWARD? BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, THAT THIS GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

READY? YES, I AM READY NOW.

YES. SEVEN AYES, ONE ABSENT.

THANK YOU. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO QUORUM COURT, [INAUDIBLE] 107.

SO. YEAH, WE'VE GOT A DEPARTMENT 107.

I THINK WE GOT SOMETHING IN THE RANGE OF $1500 TO 2000 INCREASE.

MOST OF IT'S GOING TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR UNICODE HOSTING, SOME OF OUR NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE IN THE SOUND ROOM.

AND I'M BOUND AND DETERMINED TO GET NEW CHAIRS UP THERE FOR YOU ALL NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT'S IT.

JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE JUSTIN AND AMY AND ALL THAT THEY DO TO HELP GET US TO FROM POINT A TO POINT B AND OVER THE HUMP AND ALL OF THAT.

[00:15:11]

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? I THINK THIS IS A UNANIMOUS ONE.

SEVEN AYES, ONE ABSENT.

MR. BLAGG, THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENT 115 INFORMATION SERVICES.

PULASKI COUNTY INFORMATION SYSTEMS WILL BE TAKING ON ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT IN THE NEXT YEAR.

SO WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS JUST AN INCREASE IN THE OVERTIME BUDGET.

AND THIS WOULD JUST KIND OF COVER US FOR ANY KIND OF UNUSUAL UNKNOWN.

SO I REALLY DON'T EXPECT US TO USE $7,000 OF OVERTIME.

THIS THE MAJORITY OF IT WOULD PROBABLY BE RETURNED TO YOU AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

BUT THIS WOULD BE JUST TO KIND OF COVER US IN THOSE UNUSUAL OR CATASTROPHIC SITUATIONS IF IT WAS NEEDED.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO THE SUPREME COURT FOR THE DO PASS RECOMMENDATION? BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

SEVEN AYES, ONE ABSENT. THANK YOU.

THANKS, JOE. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENT 121, HUMAN RESOURCES.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

SO WE HAVE TWO LINE ITEMS THAT I'M LOOKING TO INCREASE.

ONE IS INCREASED $5000 TO COVER FOR OUR NEW EMAIL SERVICE.

AND ALSO WE WE ADDED ELECTRONIC FAX THIS YEAR, SO WE HAVE A COST THERE ASSOCIATED EVERY MONTH.

AND THE OTHER IS TO INCREASE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES LINE ITEM BY 10,000 FOR A CATASTROPHIC LEAVE STUDY AND A SECOND INCREASE OF 20,000.

AND THAT WOULD BE FOR CONDUCTING PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING.

AND ALSO TO ADD THAT TO THE MEMO.

BUT WE ALSO CONTRACTED WITH A COMPANY TO SORT OF REVIEW OUR EEO PLAN EVERY YEAR, AND WE RUN DATA ANALYSIS NOW THAT WE CAN GET THAT OUT OF OUR SYSTEM.

SO WE ANALYZE THOSE NUMBERS EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR POLICY.

OKAY. JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT LINE ITEM 3009, AND I THINK YOU SAID $20,000 FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING.

WHAT WHAT TYPE OF TESTING ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WE DO BACKGROUND CHECKS, CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.

WE DO MOTOR VEHICLE CHECKS.

WE DO SEX OFFENDER CHECKS, PHYSICALS.

SOME OF THOSE ARE DOT PHYSICALS.

SOME ARE NON DOT PHYSICALS.

WE DO DRUG TESTING.

YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TEST FOR ANYBODY THAT'S GOT A CDL.

SO A DOT TEST VERSUS A NON DOT TEST.

AND THOSE COSTS HAVE GONE UP QUITE A BIT.

BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING A NATIONWIDE BACKGROUND CHECK NOW AND USED TO BE WE ONLY DID ARKANSAS.

SO IF YOU COMMITTED A CRIME ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE NATION, WE WOULDN'T BE AWARE OF THAT.

SO NOW WE'RE DOING IT ON A NATIONWIDE BASIS.

SO WE STARTED THAT WHEN I BEGAN MY TENURE DOWNSTAIRS, AND THE COSTS HAVE GROWN WITH THAT.

WE'VE ABSORBED THEM. BUT IT'S TIME TO ASK FOR THE INCREASE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT.

SO WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN DOING THE TEST, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSES, THEY'VE GONE UP.

YEAH. WHAT WE ALSO DID AN AUDIT.

I MEAN, I WILL SAY THAT WE DID AN AUDIT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE TESTS THAT ARE BEING DONE FOR EACH POSITION ARE STRICTLY BASED UPON THE JOB DUTIES FROM THAT.

AND WE FOUND SOME THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE CHANGES TO WHAT TESTS WERE BEING DONE.

WHAT JOB WOULD REQUIRE YOU TO DO A NATIONWIDE CHECK? THAT'D BE ALL YOUR JOB.

SO THAT'S NOT ALL THE JOBS.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE JOB DUTIES ARE.

SO FOR INSTANCE, IN MY OFFICE, PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION, SO SECURITY.

[00:20:02]

SAME WOULD GO FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE DONE THERE.

ROAD AND BRIDGE IS ONE THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF PHYSICALS.

WE DO A DOT PHYSICAL NOW RATHER THAN JUST A GENERAL PHYSICAL BECAUSE WE FIGURE OUT IF THE PERSON IS ON ANY MEDICATIONS THAT MIGHT AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO WORK HEAVY MACHINERY.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO FALL INTO COMPLIANCE IN ALL AREAS.

OKAY. AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED $10,000 FOR CATASTROPHIC LEAVE.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A STUDY ON THAT AND WHAT IS THAT STUDY GOING TO ENTAIL? BEST PRACTICES. OH, YEAH.

AND SO THAT MEANS WE'LL GO TO OTHER COMPANIES, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU I YIELD.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, JUSTICE KEITH, JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU RECOGNIZED.

YEAH, I'LL PASS THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YOU'RE RECOGNIZE? I DON'T THINK THERE'S A MOTION YET ON THE TABLE.

NO, THERE'S NOT. SO I'LL MAKE ONE THAT WE APPROVE THE HR BUDGET OR BUDGETS BEFORE US WITH THE DUE PASS CONSIDERATION, RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU.

I'LL SECOND. SECOND.

OK BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BE NONE, JUSTIN CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

WE ARE NOW DOWN TO DEPARTMENT 122, COUNTY CIVIL ATTORNEY.

SHOOT THIS ONE DOWN.

GOOD EVENING, ADAM FOGLEMAN, PULASKI COUNTY ATTORNEY.

I WANT TO POINT OUT ONE THING IN THERE WAS, I THINK AN EMAIL INCLUDED IN THERE IN ADDITION TO THE SMALL M&O INCREASE.

I'M ALSO ASKING FOR THE CREATION OF A NON GENERAL FUND.

COUNTY ATTORNEY THREE POSITION AND HUTCH JUST DUCKED OUT OF THE ROOM.

BUT THAT THE ATTORNEY THREE POSITION THAT WE HAVE NOW IS AN $85,000 A YEAR OR SO AFTER.

HUTCH DO YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS ON IF IT'S I THINK IT'S $85,000 A YEAR ON THE ATTORNEY THREE.

AND SO WITH BENEFITS, IT WOULD BE ABOUT A $100,000, BUT THAT WOULD COME FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FUND.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FUND IS ADMINISTERED IN THE SAME WAY AS THE ASSESSOR'S FUND.

SO IT'S NOT A GENERAL FUND REQUEST.

IT'S PAID FOR BY THE TAXING ENTITIES.

AND THE THE REASON THAT I'M ASKING FOR THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE TRANSITIONING INTO A THREE YEAR REAPPRAISAL CYCLE.

AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL SEE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF MASS APPRAISAL OR COUNTY REAPPRAISAL APPEALS THAT GO TO THE CIRCUIT COURT.

AND CURRENTLY WE'VE GOT TWO OF THE FOUR ATTORNEYS WORKING PRETTY MUCH FULL TIME ON THAT STUFF ALREADY.

SO WITH AN INCREASE, WE'LL SEE MORE AND A COMPARABLE INCREASE WOULD BE FOUND IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FUND BUDGET, WHICH WOULD JUST ABSORB THAT ADDITIONAL COST.

SO THE THE M&O INCREASE, WHICH IS ABOUT 4000, WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO PROVIDE A COMPUTER AND A DESK TO ANOTHER ATTORNEY. AND I HAVE A QUESTION.

HOW MUCH IS IN THAT FUND? IS THIS WHAT'S IN THAT FUND? IN THE M&O, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FUND, I THINK RIGHT NOW IS APPROPRIATED FOR ABOUT $50,000 A YEAR.

AND SO THE INCREASE WOULD TAKE IT TO 150.

AND I WOULD IF THIS IS MET WITH IS WELL RECEIVED TONIGHT, THEN MY NEXT STEP IS TO NOTIFY THE TAXING ENTITIES BY FILING MY BUDGET WITH THEM.

THAT'S THE PROCESS UNDER STATUTE THAT'S GOING TO BE FOLLOWED.

OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AND LIKE HER BUDGET IS SENT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THAT KIND OF THING FOR APPROVAL LIKE THAT.

HE'LL HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING.

SO IF YOU APPROVE IT, IT'S KIND OF DONE, BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TO.

[00:25:02]

THANK YOU. I GUESS THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

CAN I GET A MOTION TO? BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.

JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

7 AYES, ONE ABSENT.

THANK YOU. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT, FINAL APPROVAL.

MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENT 403, THIRD DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT, JUDGE COMPTON.

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET APPROVED IS SOMETHING WE'VE NEVER HAD IN THIRD DIVISION.

AND THAT'S A PART TIME POSITION FOR A BAILIFF.

THIRD DIVISION TOOK OVER.

SECOND AND FOURTH DIVISION'S DOCKET COMBINED THEM ALL.

WE JUMPED FROM ABOUT 3000 CASES TO ROUGHLY 4500 CASES.

I'VE COMPARED THE BUDGET TO FIRST DIVISION'S PART TIME BAILIFF POSITION.

THERE'S IS ROUGHLY $29,840.

THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME THAT WE WOULD BE USING FOR A BAILIFF PART TIME.

JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. AND ARE YOU JUDGE COMPTON OR ARE YOU HERE SPEAKING? I'M HER SECRETARY.

OKAY. WHAT IS YOUR NAME, MA'AM? RENEE. OKAY. MISS RENEE.

IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO BE CALLED.

WE'LL CALL YOU MISS RENEE.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU CALL ME AS LONG AS YOU CALL ME FOR DINNER.

ALL RIGHT. SO THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS YOU ASK ABOUT A BAILIFF AND EXTRA HELP FOR A BAILIFF. AND IT'S THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD AROUND THIS TABLE FOR A LONG TIME.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE STARTED TRYING TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE COULD RECEIVE AT THAT POINT IN TIME ZERO COOPERATION FROM THE JUDICIAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

CAN'T REALLY GO FORWARD WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THERE.

RIGHT. WITHOUT WITHOUT COOPERATION AND THERE BEING SOME CONSENSUAL UNDERSTANDING, WHICH DIDN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN AT THAT TIME.

SO I THINK THAT AT LEAST THIS BODY AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OUT OF 15, WE'RE WE'RE INTERESTED IN IN IN PARTNERING AND DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.

AND WE'VE GOT THREE NEW JUDGES IN IN JUVENILE AND A COUPLE OF NEW JUDGES OVER AT ADULT.

SO I THINK HOPEFULLY WE TURN THE TIDE IN THE CORNER, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS BODY HAS ALREADY BEEN OVER BACKWARDS AND GARGLED PEANUT BUTTER TO TRY TO GET THIS KIND OF COOPERATION.

AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO SEE YOU COMING FORWARD AND YOUR COURT COMING FORWARD IN A MANNER THAT WANTS TO COOPERATE AND BE PARTNERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WITH PULASKI COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. MASSEY. THANK YOU.

JUSTICE STOWERS. JUSTICE KEITH, YOU RECOGNIZED.

AND MAYBE THIS IS TO HUTCH, BECAUSE I GUESS THIS IS I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOUSEKEEPING.

I THOUGHT WE NORMALLY CONSIDERED POSITION NEW POSITIONS AT A DIFFERENT TIME, NOT DURING OUR REGULAR BUDGETS.

THIS IS THE SAME REQUEST THAT CAME UP WITH A FEW MONTHS AGO TO PUT IN EXTRA MONEY FOR A PART TIME BAILIFF.

IT'S THE SAME REQUEST THAT WAS AMENDED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL REQUEST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT IF YOU APPROVE IT, THAT YOU WON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF OTHER COURTS COMING TO DO IT.

BUT IT'S THE SAME REQUEST THAT YOU GUYS EDITED OUT.

BUT I GUESS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IF THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE WANT TO DO IT, BECAUSE AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING WHETHER THE POSITION IS NEEDED OR NOT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT JUST AS FAR AS OUR RULES OF WHAT WE FOLLOW HERE.

YOU HAVE A YOU HAD THREE EXCEPTIONS TO IT TONIGHT, BASICALLY BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACTS AND THE TIMING.

YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO NEW POSITIONS IN APRIL.

OKAY. THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT STILL HAS TO GO TO THE SCHOOL BOARDS TO BE APPROVED.

IF YOU WAIT TILL APRIL, THAT PUTS IT OFF A WHOLE NOTHER YEAR WHILE IT GOES THROUGH THEM TO COME BACK.

[00:30:01]

THOSE ARE WHAT ARE ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR FEELING IS ON PART TIME.

YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF DEPARTMENTS TONIGHT THAT ARE ASKING FOR PART TIME, PART TIME, MONEY.

WHICH ONE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN IT TO BE ABLE TO PAY MORE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

ONE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO HIRE MORE PART TIME PEOPLE AND APPARENTLY THEY NEED AN EXTRA PART TIME PERSON.

SO, TIM, IT IS. AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME IF I'VE OVERLOOKED SOMETHING.

NOW, I REALIZE THE ATTORNEY CAME AND I KNEW THAT WAS NOT GENERAL FUND MONEY, BUT HAVE WE HAD THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS TO COME UP? THAT WOULD BE GENERAL FUND MONEY.

OKAY, NOT YET. OKAY.

THEY'RE ON YOUR AGENDA. OKAY.

YEAH. YEAH, RIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I WASN'T SLEEPING UP HERE.

OKAY, SO NORMALLY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY ENTERTAIN IT AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. WITH THAT, I.

I YIELD. YOU'VE GOT A LIST OF NEW POSITIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED FOR THAT WE'VE WE'VE TOLD THEM WILL COME IN APRIL.

THEY CHARGE PUT THE STUFF TOGETHER AND WE'VE TOLD THEM WE'D COME IN APRIL.

THURSDAY'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT I GET I MEAN THEY WANTED PART TIME MONEY.

OKAY. SO IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR INTERPRETATION OF THAT YOUR RULE IS.

HUTCH, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED SINCE I'M, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO NAVIGATE AND UNDERSTAND AT THE SAME TIME.

SO HOW MANY ON ON THIS LIST ARE REQUESTING? DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU COULD JUST TELL US AND I COULD PUT A CHECK BY.

YOU HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ASKING FOR MONEY, EITHER FOR EXTRA HELP OR PART TIME.

WHICH IS NOT A NEW POSITION.

WHICH IS NOT. AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANYWHERE FROM $9000 TO $75000, DEPENDING ON WHICH DEPARTMENT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. CAN YOU TELL ME THOSE DEPARTMENTS RIGHT QUICK HUTCH SINCE YOU..

THIS DEPARTMENT 403 IS ASKING FOR 30,000 FOR A PART TIME BAILIFF.

RIGHT. PUBLIC DEFENDER, WHO'S COMING UP IN A LITTLE BIT WANTS 75,000 FOR PART TIME CLERKS OR FOR SALARIES FOR PART TIME CLERKS. RIGHT.

SEVENTH DIVISION, WHICH IS FOR 27 IS ASKING FOR NON EXCUSE ME 9000 EXTRA HELP.

AND THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IS ASKING FOR 25,000 AND EXTRA HELP TO INCREASE THEIR CLERK'S SALARIES TO BE COMPETITIVE.

NOW WAS THAT 427 OR 437? 427.

I DON'T SEE IT ON HERE. YOU DON'T SEE THAT.

YEAH. UNLESS THERE'S YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T SEE IT ON YOUR LIST.

I DON'T SEE. YEAH. YEAH.

BECAUSE I KNOW I DON'T SEE.

YEAH. I'LL THROW SOME ROCKS AT AMY WHEN THIS IS OVER.

SHE LEFT THAT OFF.

SO 427.

AND HOW MUCH.. GO STAND IN THE CORNER.

YEAH, WE ARE. WELL, I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO DETERMINE HOW I VOTE FOR 37 YEARS. SHOULD NOT BE ON YOUR LIST BECAUSE YOU INCREASE THEIR EXTRA HELP WITH ORDINANCE 22 OR 31.

YOU'VE ALREADY INCREASED THEIR EXTRA BILL.

OH, WELL, THAT WAS RIGHT.

SO THEY WERE RIGHT. I WAS WRONG.

I'LL THROW ROCKS AT ME LATER.

OKAY. 427 IS NOT OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME I RECOGNIZE JUSTICE STOWERS.

SO WHICH BUDGET ARE WE ON RIGHT NOW? WE ARE 403.

403, THE THIRD DIVISION, JUDGE COMPTON.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE SAME REQUEST THAT THEY HAD A FEW MONTHS AGO.

THEY HAVE TWO BAILIFFS.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR MONEY TO CREATE A PART TIME BAILIFF POSITION.

OKAY. CAN I MAKE A MOTION AND A COMMENT? I'LL BE BRIEF. SO MY MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE JUDGE COMPTON'S BUDGET WITHOUT THE NEW POSITIONS.

SO YES, THAT'S THE ONE YOU'RE ONLY INCREASE THEY HAVE IS THAT PART TIME.

SO IF YOU HOLD THE PART TIME OUT AND IMPROVE YOUR BUDGET.

[00:35:02]

IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, THAT WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET WITHOUT THE INCREASE..

PART TIME INCREASE.

WITHOUT THE ONLY INCREASE.

REALLY? SO I SAID I JUST HAD A QUICK COMMENT.

OKAY. I'LL BE VERY, VERY OKAY.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED AGAIN.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S 15 OF US SITTING UP HERE.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO THINK LONG TERM.

AND WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME FROM FROM THESE JUDGES.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

AND THAT IS WE NEED WE NEED THIS EXTRA HELP IN ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, ON THE BAILIFFS SIDE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP OURSELVES DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

AND BUT HOWEVER, WE NEED TO PROVIDE THAT OR HELP THAT SITUATION.

IT'S GOT TO BE DONE, BUT IT CAN'T BE THROUGH JUST CONTINUING TO INCREASE EXPENSES ON OUR SIDE.

ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, JUST THEN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE, PLEASE? SIX AYES, ONE ABSTENTION, ONE ABSENT.

THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL WITH THE ADJUSTMENTS.

MOVING ON TO DEPARTMENT 416, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.

YOU'RE ON. OH, I'M SORRY.

I AM SPEAKING FOR THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY TONIGHT.

THEY'RE ALL AT A SOME TYPE OF CONFERENCE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY'RE ASKING FOR 25,000 AND EXTRA HELP FOR TO INCREASE THE THEIR CLERKS SALARIES TO BECOME COMPETITIVE.

I'M JUST READING WHAT'S IN Y'ALL'S BOOKS, AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR 40,000 FOR A NEW VEHICLE.

[INAUDIBLE] IS RETIRING AND APPARENTLY HE'S HAD THAT VEHICLE THE WHOLE TIME AND THEY'RE GOING TO RETIRE IT AND TRY TO GET HIM SOMETHING NEW, WHICH I'D BE SHOCKED THEY CAN FIND SOMETHING 40 GRAND RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

OH, I'D APPRECIATE A GOOD VOTE ISN'T THAT WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY.

SO JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND BUDGET FOR 16 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

THE PROPER MOTION? I THINK WE GOT A SECOND.

BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.

JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE PROPERLY RECOGNIZED.

SO I GUESS IN THE INTERESTS OF FAIRNESS, WE'RE SENDING THIS ONE TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.

BUT THEY'RE ASKING FOR $25,000 FOR ADDITIONAL HELP.

SO WHAT? HOW DO WE.

THEY'RE NOT HIRING NEW PEOPLE.

NO, THEY'RE NOT HIRING NEW PEOPLE.

THAT WAS A BUT IT'S ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR.

ALL RIGHT. SO THAT WOULD BE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THAT FIRST THAT PREVIOUS BUDGET IN THIS BUDGET.

WELL, THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU ON THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS, THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR MORE PEOPLE.

THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF THEIR CLERKS, THEIR PART TIME CLERKS TO BE COMPETITIVE.

OKAY, MICHIGAN, I THINK THE STICKING POINT ON THE EXTRA BAILIFF THING AND I'M ADAM CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN I DO, IS THAT THE COUNTY HAS TO PROVIDE THESE POSITIONS. BASED OFF OF A STATE MANDATE.

SOME GET ONE, SOME GET TWO.

AND I THINK THE STICKING POINT FOR SOME WAS THE FACT THAT THAT COURT WAS ASSIGNED TWO AND THEN THIS WOULD HAVE EXCEEDED WHAT WAS REQUIRED.

AND I THINK ADAM CAN EXPAND.

OKAY. OKAY.

I'M SORRY. I'M SO SORRY.

YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR, BUT YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

I'LL TRY NOT TO EXPAND TOO MUCH BECAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL LIKE BRIEF ANSWERS.

SO THE STATE POSITIONS, POSITIONS THAT ANSWER TO STATE OFFICERS ARE BY THE ARKANSAS CONSTITUTION HAVE TO BE CREATED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND SO BY STATUTE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAID PULASKI COUNTY IS GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THIS NUMBER OF BAILIFF.

AND AT THIS RATE OF PAY FOR THE THE CIRCUIT JUDGES IN THIS JUDICIAL DISTRICT, I THINK EVERYWHERE, WITH THE

[00:40:06]

AND SO THAT'S THE RELIEF VALVE GENERALLY IS TO CALL IN THE SHERIFFS, THE SHERIFF, IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND SECURITY. OKAY.

SO THEN MAYBE.

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE HUTCH CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION THEN.

THEY ARE INCREASING THIS TO TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

WOULD THESE INDIVIDUALS ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR IF WE DO THE SALARY INCREASE SO THESE PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE PART TIME IS NOT PART TIME IS NOT ON YOUR SALARY SCHEDULE.

OKAY. YEAH.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. YEAH.

PART TIME IS UNDER THE IRS LESS THAN 29 HOURS A WEEK AND THERE'S NOT BENEFITS ATTACHED TO THAT.

OH, YES. I'VE GOT YOU.

JUST A SECOND. I DO HAVE I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE I LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT, AND I THINK I'VE KIND OF LOST IT.

IN REGARDS TO THE TO THESE BAILIFFS.

SO THEY HAVE WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES OR ALLOWS CURRENTLY.

RIGHT. FOR THAT, FOR THOSE.

YES. SO EACH EACH OF THE JUDGES OF OF OUR JUDICIAL DISTRICT, WE PROVIDE ONE FOR ALL OF THEM.

IF THEY ARE A, IF THEY HEAR CRIMINAL CASES, THEN THEY GET ONE ADDITIONAL THEY GET AN ASSISTANT BAILIFF.

OKAY. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF SHE'S IF THEY'RE NEEDING AN ADDITIONAL ONE, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO PETITION THE STATE FOR THAT.

OR IF IT'S A FULL TIME POSITION, THEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S GOT TO PROVIDE THAT RESPONSE OF IF THEY NEED PART TIME HELP, THEN THAT THE DIFFICULTY WITH PART TIME HELP IS YOU'RE LOOKING AT A CERTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT CAN STEP IN AS A PART TIMER, WHICH I WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME WOULD MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO ACQUIRE.

BUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS AN ADDITIONAL RELIEF VALVE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE THE THE BAILIFF OF ALL THE COURTS IN THE COUNTY.

AND WE CAN USE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, FOR THAT ADDITIONAL HELP.

NOW IT'S UP TO IT'S UP TO THE SHERIFF TO POSITION THAT EMPLOYEE THERE.

BUT ON REQUEST FROM THE JUDGE, I WOULD HOPE THAT ON THE CIRCUIT JUDGES, I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIVE.

THANK YOU. JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU, MR. MASSEY.

SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AND SAY THANK YOU FOR I GOT TO THINKING HOW LONG MR. JEGLEY MUST HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE AS OUR PROSECUTOR BEFORE RETIRING.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS RAN FOR PROSECUTOR BACK WHEN IT WAS A PARTISAN OFFICE IS NOW LIKE JUDICIAL OFFICES.

IT'S NONPARTISAN.

BUT WHAT I APPRECIATE, THOUGH, IS HOW MR. JEGLEY HAS WENT ABOUT RUNNING HIS OFFICE.

AND SORRY, JUSTIN, TO WEAR YOU OUT MAN YOU LOOK A LITTLE TIRED THERE.

BUT I WANT TO I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO ME THE NONPARTISAN WAY AS IT SHOULD BEEN.

AND WE'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, THERE'S NOT DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN TRASH NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP OR DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN POTHOLES, SAME WAY WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I APPRECIATE THE GOOD JOB THAT MR. JEGLEY HAS DONE SINCE STOLL RETIRED FROM THAT OFFICE SOME 24 OR 26 YEARS AGO.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM.

I BELIEVE THAT HIS THE GENTLEMAN THAT'S TAKING HIS PLACE WHO HAS WORKED FOR HIM IN THE PAST WAS GOING TO BE ONE HECK OF A PROSECUTOR, JUST LIKE LARRY HAS BEEN. SO. UM, WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION YET? OR IF THERE'S NOT, I'LL MAKE IT.

YES, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

AND JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

SEVEN AYES, ONE ABSENT.

THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM DEPARTMENT 417, PUBLIC DEFENDER.

GOOD EVENING, JUSTICE. MY NAME IS MATT CARTER.

[00:45:02]

I DON'T KNOW WHY HE COULDN'T MAKE IT TO 50, BUT HE DID 49.

HE'S STILL PRACTICING LAW.

AND WITH THE BILL JAMES FIRM AND I WAS JUST MENTIONED THAT.

BUT TO BRING THAT UP, THE REASON FOR MY ONE LINE ITEM REQUEST IS FOR LAW CLERKS.

THE ABILITY, JUST AS THE PROSECUTORS ARE ASKING THE ABILITY TO COMPETE WITH THE BILL JAMES FIRM, WHO PAYS $15 AN HOUR. WE PAY 13.

WE'RE WINNING THIS INCREASE SO WE CAN RAISE OUR HOURLY RATE FOR LAW CLERKS TO $15 AN HOUR SO WE CAN COMPETE.

AND RIGHT NOW, OUR ATTORNEYS ARE SO OVERBURDENED WITH CASES DUE TO THE BACKLOG FROM THE PANDEMIC THAT WE ARE CARRYING ANYWHERE FROM THREE TIMES TO UP TO FIVE TIMES A CASELOAD OF FELONY CRIMINAL CASES THAT MORE SO THAN THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS, WHICH IS ABOUT 120 CASES PER YEAR.

NOW, THIS HAS CAUSED SUCH A SUCH A BURDEN FOR THESE ATTORNEYS.

WE'VE LOST SIX OF THEM SINCE WE RETURNED FROM VIRTUAL COURT TO IN-PERSON COURT, CIRCUIT COURT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOSE MORE BECAUSE IF NOT FOR A HIGHER SALARY FOR THESE ATTORNEYS, THEY WILL LEAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE SO OVERBURDENED.

THE FEAR IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE INEFFECTIVE IF WE KEEP ON THIS RATE OF CASELOADS, WE CANNOT MAINTAIN THIS. SO OUR DEPENDENCE UPON LAW CLERKS WHO ARE LAW STUDENTS FROM LAW SCHOOL IS MORE SO NOW THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN.

AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR.

AND IT MAY BE A HIGH PRICE TAG.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR NEW POSITIONS OF ATTORNEYS.

I DO PLAN ON ASKING NEW POSITIONS TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

MR. GREG PARISH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR I'M HOPING HE'S GOING TO GET US NEW POSITIONS, BUT WE ARE ABOUT THREE THREE ATTORNEY POSITIONS SHY OF FULLY STAFFING THE OFFICE, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE NEAR ENOUGH.

AND SO OUR RELIANCE ON CLERKS, THEY ASSIST US IN THE COURTROOM.

THE RULE 15, THERE'S A CLERK DESIGNATION CALLED THE RULE 15, AND THEY CAN BASICALLY DO ANYTHING A LAWYER CAN DO, GO UP TO THE PODIUM, PLEAD THE CASE, ARGUE WITH THE LAWYERS SUPERVISION.

OF COURSE, THEY ALSO ASSIST US WITH LEGAL RESEARCH INSIDE IN THE OFFICE.

BUT THE MAIN THING I HEAR FROM ALL OF THE ATTORNEYS IS WE NEED MORE CLERKS, I NEED A CLERK, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE SEVEN RIGHT NOW TO SPREAD BETWEEN THIRTY LAWYERS.

AND IT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, FOR THE SOLE REASON.

THAT'S THE ONLY LINE ITEM I'M REQUESTING INCREASE IN.

THANK YOU. JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. SO I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND PARTICULARLY MR. SIMPSON'S SERVICE. I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL BE BACK WITH US OR NOT.

JUST LIKE MR. JEGLEY MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU KNOW, FOR SO LONG, IT'S FOR THE DEFENSE OF THOSE WHO COULDN'T AFFORD A DEFENSE AND SO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HIS SERVICE.

HAVEN'T HEARD A MOTION YET TO ADOPT YOUR BUDGET, SO I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.

SECOND.

IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THEY'RE BE NONE, JUSTIN WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

SEVEN AYES, ONE ABSENT. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. WE WILL, WE'RE NOW DOWN TO DEPARTMENT 435, WHICH IS EIGHT DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNETTE TAYLOR, AND I'M HERE FOR JUDGE BURTON MANNING, SHE IS AT JUDICIAL COLLEGE.

OUR BUDGET, I HAVE ASKED FOR INCREASES FOR CONTRACT LABOR FOR $9,000 FOR THE SIMPLE REASON WE HAVE

[00:50:10]

I'VE ASKED FOR 1000 MORE IN OUR PRINTING.

THIS IS FOR NEW UPDATES ON ORDERS, LETTERHEADS AND ORDERING ENVELOPES.

OUR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE CONTRACTS HAVE WENT UP BY 1700.

IT PAYS FOR OUR COURTROOM TECHNOLOGY, COPIERS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT WE USE.

I'VE REQUESTED 500 MORE FOR THE TELEPHONE AND FAX.

THE TRAVEL HAS WENT UP A $1000 TO CUT BECAUSE THE MILEAGE HAS WENT UP.

THIS IS FOR TRAINING SEMINARS AND COURT RELATED TRAVEL.

CALM AND CARRY WENT UP A LITTLE OVER $500 TO COVER LODGING EXPENSES AND FOR TRAININGS AND SEMINARS DUE TO INFLATION.

THE COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEY HAS WENT UP A $1000.

IT WAS MADE TO COVER ATTORNEY FEES THAT ARE FOR DEPENDENT NEGLECT CASES.

MEALS AND LODGING WENT UP A LITTLE OVER $800 JUST TO SIMPLY ABSORB SOME OF THE COSTS THAT ARE RAISING RIGHT NOW.

AND THE LAST ONE IS THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION, AND THAT'S REQUEST TO COVER CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS AND DUES FOR YEARLY TRAINING AND SEMINARS.

OKAY, MAYBE I MISSED IT.

YOU SAID THE LAST ONE WAS TRAINING AND EDUCATION.

I'M SORRY. AND I FORGOT COMPUTER SOFTWARE.

THAT WAS FOR $2500.

WE COLLECT DATA ON JUVENILES.

IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE PROBATION SYSTEM REVIEW.

AND THE RESULTS WERE CONTACTED BY THE RFK NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE.

IT'S MADE TO COVER THE SOFTWARE UPDATES.

THANK YOU. JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED? YES, SIR. BE GENTLE, THIS IS MY FIRST MEETING.

SHE RECENTLY GOT MARRIED, IT'S JUDGE BIRD MANNING.

OH, YES, SIR.

OKAY, GREAT.

GREAT. OKAY.

I HAVE NO QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET, BUT I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND IT TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH THE DO PASS RECOMMENDATION.

BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, THEN WE MOVE THIS ON TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF THERE BE NONE.

JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

AYES, ONE ABSENT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THANK YOU, JUSTICES. WE ARE NOW DOWN TO 437, 10TH DIVISION CIRCUIT COURT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

I AM GWEN WILLIAMS, FIFTH DIVISION ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FOR A JUDGE SHANICE JOHNSON, 10TH DIVISION CIRCUIT JUDGE, AND OUR REQUEST IS APPROXIMATELY $13,000.

AND OUR FIRST LINE ITEM THAT WE'RE INCREASING IS IN GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES.

WE'RE ASKING $2,000 OVER THE 2002 BUDGET BECAUSE OUR COPY PAPER HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.

THIS LAST TIME THAT I MADE A REQUEST, IT WAS OVER $1,000.

BEFORE THAT, IT WAS LIKE 800.

SO IT'S GONE UP CONSIDERABLY.

AND NOW WE ONLY HAVE TWO JUVENILE COURTS.

WE NO LONGER HAVE THE THREE.

JUDGE JAMES WENT DOWNTOWN, SO WE ONLY HAVE TWO AND WE PAY FOR WE BEING EIGHT DIVISION AND 10TH DIVISION PAY FOR ANY COPIES THAT ARE MADE WITH OUR RECEPTIONIST COPIER.

WE PAY ANYONE WHO COMES IN, WHO NEEDS COPIES, ANYONE IN OUR BUILDING WHO COMES AND USES THAT PARTICULAR COPIER. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.

AND THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY, A LOT OF PAPERS, ALTHOUGH WE SAY IT IS PAPERLESS, I PROMISE YOU THERE'S A LOT OF PAPER.

OKAY. AND THEN OUR NEXT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE, IF YOU'LL NOTICE ON YOURS, YOU'LL SEE THE JANITORIAL SUPPLIES, BUT WE NO LONGER ARE ASKING FOR THAT AMOUNT.

AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE OF $475.

SO WE'RE REMOVING THAT FROM OUR REQUEST.

ALSO, OUR OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LINE ITEM 3009, WE PAY FOR DRUG SCREEN SUPPLIES.

[00:55:05]

BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF MAYBE SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE OR OTHER NATIONALITIES WHO NEED TO BE ABLE TO READ DOCUMENTS. SO WE HAVE TO SEND THEM OUT TO BE TRANSLATED.

THOSE ARE EXTREMELY HIGH COSTS TO PAY FOR THEM TO BE TRANSLATED FROM ENGLISH INTO WHATEVER THE OTHER LANGUAGE IS.

SO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE.

WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN OUR POSTAGE FOR OVER FOUR $500 OVER OUR 202 2022 BUDGET BECAUSE THE POSTAL AMOUNTS HAVE INCREASED.

AND WE ALSO NOT ONLY PAY FOR THE OUR BUDGET AND OUR STAFF, BUT WE ALSO PAY FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE WHO WILL PERHAPS HAVE SOMETHING FOR 10TH DIVISION THAT NEEDS THAT'S A SERVICE THAT HAS TO BE SERVED UPON SOMEONE.

WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT OUT.

AND NOW IF YOU'LL KNOW THAT CERTIFIED MAIL IS ALMOST $7 WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES, THAT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE FOR WE'RE ASKING FOR $500 OVER THAT.

WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF $500 IN LINE ITEM 332, WHICH IS OUR CELL PHONES AND OUR PAGERS.

WE HAVE RECENTLY REQUESTED FIVE CELL PHONES FOR THE STAFF, FOR 10TH DIVISION STAFF, BUT WE ALSO HELP PAY FOR THE AND THOSE CELL PHONES ARE USED BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN HAVING PEOPLE TO CALL DIRECTLY INTO PEOPLE'S CELL PHONES, THEIR PERSONAL CELL PHONES.

SO THE COURTS HAVE PURCHASED AN OFFICE CELL PHONE FOR THESE PEOPLE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL THEM ON THEIR RATHER THAN THEIR PERSONAL CELL PHONES.

WE'RE ASKING FOR IN LINE ITEM 3023 INTERNET CONNECTION.

WE HAVE LEXISNEXIS ONLINE SEARCH ENGINE THAT WE DO.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR ON CALL PHONE FOR THE INTAKE DEPARTMENT THAT EIGHTH DIVISION AND I SHARE AND OUR INTERNET SERVICE.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT INTERNET SERVICES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE NEED THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY.

WE'RE ASKING FOR $2,000 ADDITIONAL IN OUR MILEAGE REQUEST AS MILEAGE HAS GONE UP.

AND WE APPRECIATE WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SEEING THE NEED TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GO INTO HOT SPRINGS FOR TRAINING.

WE HAVE I COME DOWNTOWN OFTEN, SO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ALSO ARE PROBATION OFFICERS, GO INTO HOME, GO TO HOMES AND CHECK ON CHILDREN AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO THAT'S MILEAGE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

AND OUR FINAL LINE ITEM THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IS LINE ITEM 391, WHICH IS OUR COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS.

NOW, THOSE FEES, JUDGE JOHNSON HAS INCREASED THE FEES THAT WE NOW PAY THE ANY ATTORNEYS.

NOW WE PAY AN IN-OFFICE AMOUNT OR, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY DO THINGS IN THEIR OFFICE.

AND WE ALSO PAY A SEPARATE AMOUNT FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME TO COURT FOR HEARINGS.

SO WE NEED THAT AMOUNT FOR THOSE ENCUMBRANCES.

OKAY. JUSTICE CONEY YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

SO DO YOU ALL USE THE SAME COURT APPOINTED ATTORNEYS? WELL, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE DO HAVE, SO WE HAVE PARENT COUNSEL.

WE HAVE GUARDIANS AD LITEM.

THE GUARDIANS AD LITEM USUALLY HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU THE TWO COURTS USED THE SAME? OH, NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW WHICH PERSONS THAT EIGHT DIVISION USES.

I KNOW THAT'S WHO YOU KNOW, WE USE.

WELL, YEAH, IF YOU HAVE KIDS AND THEY ALL MIX AND MINGLE TOGETHER.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY.

WHO USES PAGERS TODAY? PAGERS. NOW, WE DON'T DO THE PAGERS, BUT THAT'S THE LINE ITEM THAT IT'S CALLED.

OH, OK. THAT IS WILLIAM.

I'M SAYING WHAT.

YEAH, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE LINE ITEM.

AND THEN THE NOTARY.

WOULDN'T IT BE CHEAPER TO JUST GET TWO OR THREE IN YOUR OFFICE? CAUSE THE FEE IS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY SOMEONE? WELL, TO DO THAT, WELL, WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS I'M A NOTARY, OKAY? WE HAVE A FRONT DESK ASSISTANT.

THAT IS A NOTARY. THE JUDGE, JUDGE JOHNSON, IS IS ASKING THE INTAKE OFFICERS TO BE NOTARY.

[01:00:05]

AND SOMETIMES I MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE.

I MAYBE IN MY OFFICE OR, YOU KNOW, OR DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO IT'S JUST EASIER TO HAVE THE NOTARIES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS.

OKAY. AND WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE COMING THROUGH NEEDING DOCUMENTS.

YEAH, NO, BUT THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH NOTARIES AND YOU ALL HAVE TO RENEW BUT EVERY TEN YEARS.

SO. RIGHT. JUST ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS.

OKAY, I YIELD, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHO'S STILL USING PAGERS.

OH, ALL RIGHT.

THANKS. THANK YOU JUSTICE CONEY.

JUSTICE GREEN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

I JUST WANTED TO KNOW MS. WILLIAMS. HOW ARE THEY GETTING HOW THE CLIENTS GETTING PERSONAL CELL PHONE NUMBERS? WELL, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN IF IF, IF OUR IF IT'S AT NIGHTTIME, THEY HAVE TO THEY BEING THE THE INTAKE OFFICERS WILL HAVE TO CONTACT SOMETIMES CONTACT THE PARENT.

THAT PARENT WILL CALL THEM BACK AND SOMETIMES THAT PARENT MIGHT GIVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT NUMBER GIRL YOU CAN CALL SOMEONE SO AND SO.

YEAH. SO THIS WILL PREVENT THEM FROM HAVING TO HAVE CALLS, PERSONAL CALLS, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS CALLS COMING ON THEIR PERSONAL PHONES.

SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD WAIT UNTIL THE OFFICE OPENED IN THE MORNING.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST CONCERNED.

NO MA'AM. SO WITH INTAKE OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY'RE ON CALL, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO IF THEIR CHILD IS PICKED UP, THEY HAVE TO CALL PEOPLE ON THE STAND.

YES, MA'AM. I YIELD.

THANK YOU JUSTICE GREEN, JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND DIVISION TEN JUDGE JOHNSON'S BUDGET TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH A DO PASS RECOMMENDATION. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND THAT THIS GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.

JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

WE ARE NOW DOWN TO DEPARTMENT 500, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU. I'M ANDY TRAFFANSTEDT, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

WE HAVE ONE SINGLE LINE ITEM WE'RE REQUESTING AN INCREASE TO, AND THAT IS OUR FUEL BUDGET.

WE ARE NORMALLY BUDGETED ABOUT $10,000 PER YEAR.

WE EXPENDED THAT $10,000.

MAY 17TH OF THIS YEAR.

AND I'VE ALREADY MOVED 8000 FROM A DIFFERENT LINE ITEM WHICH TOOK MONEY OUT OF A DIFFERENT LINE ITEM.

AND TO DATE, WE'RE NOW -$379.

AND THE REASON FOR THIS INCREASE IS WE FEEL LIKE IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE FUEL PRICES HAVE GONE UP.

MAJORITY OF OUR VEHICLES ARE DIESEL.

WE HAVE 11 VEHICLES, EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES.

EIGHT OF THOSE ARE DIESEL POWERED.

AND THEN WE HAVE ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT ACCESSORIES VEHICLES SUCH AS BOATS, ATVS, FUEL TRAILERS, THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT.

SO WE ARE RESPONSES ARE CONTINUE TO RISE AS FAR AS VOLUME EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK.

SO WE JUST NEED ADDITIONAL FUEL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION WITH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU. CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND, THAT THIS GO TO THE QUORUM COURT.

JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO DEPARTMENT 806, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHELSEA WILLIAMS. I'M THE COUNTY MANAGER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR US.

I WAS ACTUALLY REVIEWING. I SEE THAT I HAD MORE THAN WE NEED TO REQUEST FOR RENT.

SO CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIKE JUST A LITTLE BIT? OKAY. IS THAT BETTER? YES. THANK YOU.

SO, LINE ITEM 3023 FOR OUR INTERNET.

WE'RE GOING FROM 0 TO 10300.

WE WERE RELOCATED TO THE HEALTH UNIT AND WE NOW PAY AT&T AN AVERAGE OF A LITTLE OVER $800 A MONTH.

SO WE HAVEN'T PAID INTERNET BEFORE, AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS ALREADY BUDGETED AT ZERO.

FOR OUR LINE ITEM 3060, FOR OUR UTILITIES, LIGHTS ARE GROWING UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO WE ARE ASKING FROM 2500 TO 3900 BECAUSE WE PAY OVER A LITTLE OVER 300 A MONTH FOR OUR LIGHTS, WHICH IS COMING OUT TO AROUND LIKE

[01:05:09]

LINE ITEM 3073, FOR LEASE MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT.

WE USE THAT LINE ITEM TO PAY FOR OUR CANON PRINTER AND THE CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH THEM.

THE CONTRACT HAS INCREASED IN PRICE, SO WE ARE REQUESTING THAT BUDGET BE MOVED UP TO 5700.

RIGHT NOW WE ALREADY ARE AT LIKE 33.

THAT WAS IN SEPTEMBER, SO WE'RE ALREADY A LITTLE OVER ON LINE.

ITEM 2007 IS FOR FUEL.

WE WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THAT TO $1,000 DUE TO FUEL PRICES.

THAT IS DIRECTOR LOVE.

HE'S HIS VEHICLE.

HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO USES WELL THIS LINE ITEMS FOR HIS CAR ONLY.

ALSO FOR THE CELL PHONE.

I BELIEVE WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE ON THAT.

WE ARE FULLY STAFFED NOW AND WE PAY THE PHONE BILLS AND SPLIT THOSE THROUGH OUR DEPARTMENTS AND FOR DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS.

LINE ITEM 3090, [INAUDIBLE] I SAW THAT OUR COMCAST BILL COMES OUT OF THAT LINE ITEM AND I THINK JUST PREVIOUSLY WE JUST DIDN'T NEVER HAVE ENOUGH FROM THE PREVIOUS BUDGET.

OK JUSTICE STOWERS YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND BUDGET 806 TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT, WHICH WOULD BE THE BEST RECOMMENDATION.

SECOND. MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.

OK JUSTICE CONEY YOU'RE RECOGNIZE? OH, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, ARE YOU ALL GOING TO REMAIN AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR A LITTLE BIT? YES, WE'VE BEEN OVER THERE SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE. ARE WE STILL LOOKING LIKE YOU'LL BE THERE FOR A WHILE? OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

THEY NEED THE SPACE.

COULD I HAVE YOUR NAME BEFORE I YIELD? CHELSEA WILLIAMS. I YIELD. THANK YOU JUSTICE CONEY.

JUSTICE GREEN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED? YES, CHELSEA. YOU SAID 39.

IT SHOWS YOUR DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS AND YOU SAID COMCAST.

YES, I JUST REVIEWED THAT MYSELF.

AND I WILL BE SPEAKING ON THAT WHEN I RETURN TO WORK TOMORROW.

I DON'T PREPARE THE VOUCHERS TO PAY.

THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS PREPARED BY SOMEONE ELSE, WHICH IS OUR ADMIN ASSISTANT.

SO I WILL CHECK INTO THAT BEING PULLED FROM THAT LINE ITEM.

[INAUDIBLE] DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS OR COMCAST.

[INAUDIBLE] MY REVIEW WAS COMCAST THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THAT LINE ITEM, WHICH IS FOR OUR TV.

SO THINKING THAT MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LINE ITEM, I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT WAS COMING OUT IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT IT SAYS ON HERE, IT SAYS DUES AND MEMBERSHIPS.

OK JUSTICE GREEN, ARE YOU.

I YIELD.

JUSTICE STOWERS. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU MS. MASSEY.

SO DO WE HAVE THESE OTHER POSITIONS TO CONSIDER TONIGHT, OR IS THIS THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA? CAN ARE YOU STILL ON THIS DEPARTMENT? BECAUSE AS SOON AS WE FINISH THEM, WE CAN DISCUSS THAT.

WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, I THINK, FOR THIS ONE FROM YOU.

BUT WE JUST HAD QUESTIONS.

SO IF WE'RE DONE WITH QUESTIONS, THEN WE WILL GO [INAUDIBLE] YEAH.

JUST GO AHEAD.

JUST A MOMENT. WE STILL HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, SO.

OH, OKAY.

YOU'RE RECOGNIZED. SORRY.

[01:10:59]

SEVEN AYES, ONE ABSENT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. AND THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT FOR THE FINAL APPROVAL.

WE ARE NOW DOWN TO POSITION CONSIDERATION.

[5. POSITION CONSIDERATION]

A POSITION DIRECTOR OF PRETRIAL SERVICES, CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION OF PRETRIAL ACTION SITE STUDY.

SO I THINK I CAN MAYBE ANSWER THIS AND I GUESS I AM GOING TO ANSWER THIS ONE.

SO THE COUNTY WAS AWARDED IT'S NOT A GRANT, BUT WAS CHOSEN FOR WHAT WAS CALLED A PRETRIAL RISK ASSESSMENT, STUDY AND EVALUATION.

WE'RE AN ACTION SITE COUNTY.

AND ALL OF THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT THAT THE COUNTY IS BEING PROVIDED WAS COVERED BY THE ARNOLD VENTURES FOUNDATION. SO IN GETTING INTO THAT CONTRACT TO DO ALL THIS WORK, WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COUNTY HAD TO DO WAS PROVIDE THIS COORDINATOR FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL RUN, WHICH IS FOR ANOTHER, I BELIEVE, THREE YEARS.

SO THIS POSITION IS PART OF THE CONTRACT WITH THE ARNOLD VENTURES FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE PRETRIAL RISK ASSESSMENT, STUDY AND EVALUATION THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY CONDUCTING.

IS THAT CLEAR AS MUD.

SO THIS POSITION, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE THAT HE'S GOING TO HIRE NOW OR FOR NEXT YEAR STARTING IN JANUARY? YEAH, RIGHT.

OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

NO. SO AND AS SOON AS THE [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM IS DONE AND THEY COME OUT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEN OBVIOUSLY THE POSITION WILL BE GONE. ALRIGHT.

JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU'RE HEARING THESE TWO POSITIONS TONIGHT IS, ONE, THIS IS CONTRACTUAL WITH THE PROGRAM.

AND SECONDLY, ON THE SECOND ONE, IT WAS A RESOLUTION THAT YOU GUYS PASSED TO CREATE THIS POSITION GOING INTO THE NEW YEAR.

SO YOU'RE NOT OBLIGATED TO PASS THEM.

BUT THIS IS WHY THEY ARE IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY REASON.

OK CAN, THANK YOU.

BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND.

IF THERE BE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THOSE TWO POSITIONS.

JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

SEVEN AYES, ONE ABSENT.

ALL RIGHT. WE ARE DOWN TO OUR LAST AND FINAL ITEM FOR DISCUSSION, WHICH IS A SALARY STUDY, EVALUATION AND ADJUSTMENT.

[6. SALARY STUDY EVALUATION & ADJUSTMENT]

[01:15:01]

THE JOHANSON GROUP THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR SALARY SCHEDULE AND BASING OUR DECISIONS OFF OF.

WE HAD THEM LOOK AT POSITIONS AND THE MARKET AND THE CURRENT ECONOMY JUST LIKE THEY DO WHEN WE HAVE THEM REEVALUATE EVERYTHING. WE'RE ABOUT 6% BEHIND THE MARKET, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ISN'T TERRIBLE COMPARED TO WHERE YOU STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, YOU WERE LIKE, WHAT, 14% DOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AND DUE TO INFLATION, THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE 4% BEHIND DUE TO INFLATION.

WELL, THAT PUTS YOU AT LIKE A 10% LAG.

THE QUESTION I HAVE RECEIVED FROM YOU ALL, WHICH IS EASY TO ANSWER, IS CAN YOU AFFORD IT NOW? YES. WILL YOU BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT NEXT YEAR? YES. THE NEGATIVE I'VE HEARD FROM YOU ALL IS THAT'S A BIG BITE TO TAKE OUT.

I AGREE. THAT IS A BIG BITE.

THE QUESTION YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER TO YOURSELF IS.

HOW FAR DO YOU WANT TO BE BEHIND GOING IN TO THE NEW YEAR? IF YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME THAT YOU CAN'T DO THE WHOLE 10%, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER SIX, BECAUSE THAT KEEPS US AT MARKET.

NOW, HERE'S ONE OF YOUR OTHER ADVANTAGES, THOUGH.

I MEAN, MR. KEITH TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT THE OTHER NIGHT.

THE SHERIFF HAS TOLD YOU FOR YEARS THAT LITTLE ROCK PAYS AROUND 50 AND HE CAN'T COMPETE.

WELL, HIS DEPUTIES MAKE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 45 AND CHANGE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU DO THE 10%, YOU JUST HIT 50.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HEAR THAT ANYMORE.

THAT SOLVES ONE OF YOUR PROBLEMS. WELL, ROAD AND BRIDGE.

IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO COMPETE WITH OPERATORS, WITH THE PRIVATE COMPANIES.

GUYS LIKE THAT ARE HARD TO FIND.

AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THERE THAT'LL CLOSE THAT GAP FOR THEM.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, AS MUCH AS THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE WANTING JOBS AND ALL THAT IT IS HARD TO HIRE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, A POSITION THAT WE USED TO RUN THAT WE WOULD GET 20 AND 30 APPLICANTS FOR.

AND THEN OUT OF THOSE 20 OR 30, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT HALF OF THEM THAT ARE VIABLE THAT YOU'LL BRING IN AND INTERVIEW.

I RUN POSITIONS NOW AND DO GOOD TO GET TWO OR THREE.

AND WHEN YOU CONTACT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, WELL, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO YOU KNOW, I'M DOING I CAN'T DO IT FOR THAT, FOR I'M MAKING MORE SITTING HERE THAN WHAT YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING.

IT'S GOING TO HELP US BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

THOSE ARE THE FACTS OF IT.

THE HARD PART'S ON Y'ALL HAVING TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND WHERE YOU ALL STAND ON IT.

AND I'M READY TO RUN THE NUMBERS ON WHATEVER WE ALL DECIDE.

JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED.

THERE WE GO. THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH THE SHERIFF AND ASKING HIM THIS QUESTION WAS AT THE NORTH PULASKI COMMUNITY EVENT A COUPLE OF SATURDAYS AGO.

AND HE SAID, PHIL, YOU GUYS ARE [INAUDIBLE] NOW, PAY WISE IS COMPETITIVE, BUT I CAN'T KEEP PEOPLE FOR LONGEVITY PURPOSES, IS IS HIS RATIONALE AT THIS POINT.

I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT TWO THIRDS OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EITHER THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE CIRCUIT DISTRICT COURT, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, PUBLIC DEFENDER.

IT'S ALL GOING DOWN THE LIST.

AND SO WHERE I GET CONCERNED AND CONFUSED IS ON THE OPTICS.

UM, AND WE GOT TO GET CROWD CONTROL.

YEAH, WE GOT EVERYBODY BEHIND US.

SORRY. AMY, DID YOU CRACK A JOKE OR SOMETHING? WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THIS CROWD.

NOW'S YOUR TIME, MAN. NOBODY IN HERE.

THAT'S. THAT'S THE. WELL, I KNOW THEY'RE GIVING ME BS SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO IT.

THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE.

I DON'T CARE. I REPRESENT 26,000 PEOPLE IN NORTH PULASKI COUNTY NOT YOU TWO GUYS.

SO. THAT'S CORRECT.

NEITHER ONE OF YOU ALL LIVE IN MY DISTRICT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I LIVE IN HIS.

I THINK YOU'RE MR. ELLIOTT'S CONSTITUENTS, SO YOU CAN BOTH GO TO NO, I'M JUST JOKING.

[01:20:05]

THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE, MAN.

NOW, NO, NO, GO AHEAD, COME ON, WE NEED TO STICK TO THE ISSUE NOW.

LET'S STICK TO THE SUBJECT.

CARRY ON. CARRY ON.

OKAY, LISTEN, ALL I WAS TRYING TO SAY, YOU GUYS, IS THAT, MY PREFERENCE, AND IF YOU WOULD ASK ME TO MAKE A MOTION, WOULD BE THAT WE DO FIVE NOW AS PART OF THE 2022 BUDGET AND THAT WE DEFER THE OTHER FIVE UNTIL JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND HAVE A SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING IN JANUARY TO CONSIDER THE ADDITIONAL 5%.

SO TO RESTATE MY MOTION WOULD BE THAT 5% WOULD GO INTO EFFECT WITH THE 2023 BUDGET, WHICH WOULD BEGIN JANUARY 1ST, AND THAT THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER AN ADDITIONAL 5% IN JANUARY.

THAT'S MY MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO AMEND THE 10% RECOMMENDATION AND DO A 5%.

NOW A 5.5% SALARY ADJUSTMENT AND TO CONSIDER THE OTHER FIVE IN JANUARY.

WELL YEAH BUT YOU, YES THAT'S FINE TO CONSIDER ANOTHER FIVE IN NEXT YEAR WITH A NEW QUORUM COURT, CORRECT. YEAH.

YEAH. SO ESSENTIALLY THE MOTION IS 5%.

YEAH, YOU'RE CORRECT.

JUSTICE KEITH, YOU RECOGNIZED AND I GUESS THIS MAY BE TO PHIL, IF WE IF WE WENT WITH THE FIVE AND THEN WE CALL A SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING SOMETIME AFTER THE THE NEW YEAR, WHAT WOULD BE THE PROJECTED INCREASE DATE IF WE WENT ALONG WITH THE HOW SOON WOULD WE LOOK EXPECT SHOOT FOR GETTING THAT ADDITIONAL INCREASE.

MIC] AND CONSIDER TOO WHEN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WILL BE APPOINTED NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT.

POINT OF ORDER. JUSTICE KEITH HAS THE FLOOR RIGHT NOW.

REMEMBER? SO AND TRUST ME AND I'M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE..

I AGREE WITH PHIL. I'M MY OPTICS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPTICS.

AND AND WHEN I SAY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE OPTICS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

AND I ALWAYS GO BACK TO WE WERE AT 49 MILLION WHEN I CAME ON THE QUORUM COURT 16, 14 YEARS LATER, WE'RE AT ALMOST $90 MILLION.

I GET IT. I MEAN, I KNOW INFLATION, BUT MY CONCERN IS IF WE STEP OUT THERE 10% AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE DONE IN HUTCH IS A SHOE AT ME.

WE GOT AT LEAST 3 TO 4 YEARS.

HE THOUGHT WE HAD AT LEAST 3 TO 4 YEARS BEFORE ANY CHANGES.

WE SAW ANY POTENTIAL CHANGES WHERE MONEY WOULD DECREASE TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, HUTCH, SO WITH THIS INCREASE, ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD NOT BE THEY WOULDN'T BE INCREASED.

THAT'S EVERY YEAR [INAUDIBLE] OK.

OKAY. SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO PUNCH THE TIME CLOCK.

OKAY, WELL, LET ME EXPLAIN.

EVERYBODY DOES A TIME CARD.

SAME THING. OKAY.

OKAY. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

OH, EVERYBODY DOES THE TIME CARD.

SAME THING. THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT, LIKE, I HAVE SOME GUYS THAT COME IN EARLY EVERY DAY.

THEY GET HERE AT, LIKE, FIVE.

OKAY. THEY'VE ALWAYS PUNCHED THE TIME CLOCK SINCE THEY GET HERE AT FIVE AND THEY LEAVE LIKE THREE.

[01:25:06]

THAT'S WHAT THAT DEPARTMENT DOES.

THEY THEY CHOOSE THEIR ONE OF MY DEPARTMENTS, BUT THEY CHOOSE TO DO A TIME CLOCK.

AND THEN THE TIME CARD IS FILLED OUT AND IT'S SENT OVER TO PAYROLL.

OKAY. OTHER OFFICERS THAT EVERYBODY IS GETTING THERE AT EIGHT.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE TO DO A TIME CLOCK, BUT THEY'RE DOING A TIME CARD.

OKAY. AND IT'S SIGNED OFF ON BY THE SUPERVISOR, JUST LIKE THE TIME CARD IS.

AND IT GOES TO PAYROLL. OKAY.

AND I ASK THAT BECAUSE I GUESS IN THE REAL WORLD, THERE ARE SALARIED PEOPLE THAT YOU MAY YOUR SALARY MAY BE $60,000, BUT YOU MAY WORK 40, 50, 60 HOURS A WEEK.

YOU'RE NOT AFFECTED BY OVERTIME.

IS THAT THE SAME WITH THE COUNTY? WELL, THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE HERE DON'T GET OVERTIME.

OKAY. ME? OKAY.

OH, EXEMPT. SO WE'RE HERE WHENEVER.

OKAY. CAN YOU ASK THAT? I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU.

JUST I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE YOU IN JUST A MOMENT.

JUST A MOMENT. I GUESS EXEMPT IS THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, WELL, NOT NECESSARILY..

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE JOB TITLE, AND HOW MUCH YOU HIRE MORE IS NOT NECESSARILY AN IRS GUIDELINE THAT GOES, OH, YOU MAKE THIS MUCH, SO YOU ARE IT'S IN MY JOB DESCRIPTION I'M HERE.

RIGHT. WHENEVER NEEDED.

BUT EVEN WITH YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER AS AN EXEMPT EMPLOYEE, YOU DON'T GET OVERTIME.

BUT. BUT FOR THE SAKE OF THIS RAISE, YOUR PAY WILL BE CONVERTED TO AN HOURLY RATE AND YOU WILL GET THAT INCREASE AS WELL AS AN HOURLY RATE.

I STILL HAVE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT I STILL HAVE VACATION DAYS THAT I HAVE TO USE IF I'M OFF, SICK DAYS.

IT'S NOT LIKE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

MY DAD WAS A SALARY WITH HIS COMPANY.

OKAY. RIGHT. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF HE WAS AT THAT OFFICE OR AT THAT PLANT 10 HOURS A WEEK OR 110 HOURS A WEEK.

HE WAS PAID THE SAME. OKAY.

RIGHT. WE'RE NOT LIKE THAT.

I'D HOPEFULLY NOT LIKE TO BE HERE 110 HOURS A WEEK.

BUT THERE'S BEEN SOME LONG WEEKS.

BUT YOU DON'T GET OVERTIME.

BUT IF I TAKE OFF, I COUNT THE TIME, RIGHT? IT'S NOT. YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT A FREEBIE.

BUT YOU DON'T GET OVERTIME.

I GUESS THAT'S OKAY.

BUT IF I TAKE OFF A HALF OF THE DAY FOR A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WHEN I FILL OUT MY TIME SHEETS AT THE END, THAT'S 4 HOURS OF MY EIGHT HOUR DAY THAT I'M TAKING SIX.

RIGHT. AND I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS, IS AT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, INDIVIDUALS THAT'S ON THE HIGHER END MAKING 100, 120.

THEY'LL BE IT'LL BE FIVE, MAYBE SIX, $7 AN HOUR INCREASE TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, PROBABLY 50, $55 AN HOUR.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE WHATEVER THAT PERCENTAGE, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I'M OKAY.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS 5% ACROSS THE BOARD IS GOING TO COST YOU ABOUT $2.7 MILLION.

OKAY. 2.7.

EIGHT POINT. YOU CHECK MY OTHER EYEBALLS? 2.7 TO 0.

500. THAT'S WHAT.

AND THAT'S AT 5%. THAT'S AT 5%.

OKAY.

SO DOUBLE THAT. THAT'S.

I AGREE. [INAUDIBLE] TWO THINGS AS I WAS DOING THINGS AS I WAS PRESENTING THIS TO YOU ALL, I SAID, MY PART IS THE EASY PART.

I PRESENT IT TO YOU. YOU HAVE THE HARD PART, YOU HAVE THE CONSTITUENTS TO ANSWER TO, THE OPTICS.

ALL THIS PRESS.

YEAH, YEAH.

I WANTED THE CORRECTION IN THIS MINOR AND IT MIGHT ACTUALLY SUPPORT WHAT MR. STOWERS IS SAYING IS HE SAID TWO THIRDS OF YOUR BUDGET GOES TO JUDICIAL PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, PUBLIC DEFENDER, COURTS, SHERIFF AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

YOU LIVE IT OFF. IT'S OVER THREE QUARTERS THROUGH COURT.

OKAY? I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

THE SHERIFF HIMSELF TAKES 57% OF YOUR BUDGET WITH THE JAIL AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THAT'S NOT THROWING ROCKS AT HIM.

I'M TELLING YOU, THAT'S THE NATURE OF IT THROUGH THIS SIDE.

AND THEN THERE'S, WHAT, ABOUT FOUR OR 500 EMPLOYEES OUT THERE? AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, WELL, THE COUNTY'S HEAVY IN PERSONNEL.

THEY ARE HEAVY IN PEOPLE.

YEAH, WE PROVIDE A SERVICE.

EITHER THE INDIVIDUALS ARE PROVIDING A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORNER, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHATEVER, AND THE REST OF THE PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTING THOSE ONES. PAYROLL, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PURCHASING ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DOING THAT.

SO YEAH, THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS IN ANY GOVERNMENT IS THE PERSONNEL.

WE'RE NOT MAKING WIDGETS.

WE CAN'T HAVE A SALE.

WE DON'T DO THAT.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR AND THAT'S THE ANSWER IS TRUE.

RIGHT. YEAH. AND SO IN A BEST CASE GUESS OR IF JOHANSON PROJECTED IT, IF WE DO THE 10% BY THE END OF 2023, WHERE WILL

[01:30:09]

LIKE OK, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SAID INFLATION WAS 8.2% FOR SEPTEMBER.

RIGHT. SO THAT IT IS GETTING A RAISE OF 8.77.

SO THAT 8.7.

8.7, I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE PROJECTED INFLATION AND INFLATION.

IF YOU REMEMBER A MEMO WE GAVE YOU ALL BACK AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR ABOUT CARRYOVER WHEN WE WERE SAYING, SAVE THIS MONEY BECAUSE WE THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY. WELL, WE WERE KIND OF CORRECT BECAUSE YOU HAVE INFLATION AND YOU CAN SEE IT COMING.

I DON'T SEE IT ENDING ANY TIME SOON.

I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT DEGREE IT'S GOING TO GO TO.

BUT YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS STUFF WITH THE INTEREST RATES AND ALL THAT.

IF YOU STUDY THAT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO OF THAT, YOU HAVE TO BE IT'S NOT GOING TO SHRINK THAT FAST.

YOU CAN'T BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE SWINGS BIG ENOUGH.

A QUARTER PERCENT ON THE INTEREST PRIME IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT BIG OF A SWING.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS HOUSING MARKET SLOW SOME.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE CAR SALES START TO EVEN OUT.

IT'S ALL PART OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT STUFF EVERY DAY, IF YOU HAVE TIME TO, IT'LL START TO MAKE SENSE.

YEAH. AND IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A FUN THING, BUT IT'S IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S BORING, BUT IT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO PUT THESE NUMBERS OUT THERE.

IF JOHANSON TOLD ME NOW WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE INFLATION WAS GOING TO BE FOR THE NEXT YEAR, I WOULD NOT BRING YOU THAT NUMBER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THAT GOOD.

NOBODY IS. I'M NOT.

I CAN GIVE YOU A NUMBER, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE RIGHT.

BUT IT'D BE SILLY TO THINK IT'S GOING TO IT'S NOT GOING TO EVEN OUT YET.

RIGHT. WELL, I GUESS MY THING IS AS BAD AS AND I'LL ADMIT, AS BAD AS I THINK THE OPTICS WOULD BE, IF I'M WILLING TO CONSIDER 10%, WHY NOT JUST GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT NOW AS OPPOSED TO LOOKING AT IT AGAIN AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR? THAT'S MY THING. AND I DO.

AND I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WE HAVEN'T HAD DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PEOPLE IN HERE IN I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEM.

YEAH. SO AND HERE'S THE THING.

I GOT TO TELL YOU. I MEAN MY PARTS, THE EASY PART.

ALL I DO IS COME UP WITH THE NUMBERS, MAKE SURE THEY'RE RIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I DO. SO THAT'S FINE.

I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO 26,000 CONSTITUENTS.

I DON'T HAVE TO.

WHATEVER. AND I SAID, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, MR. STOWERS, I'VE SAT HERE IN FRONT OF THIS COURT BEFORE AND I'VE SAID, YOU CAN'T GIVE A RAISE WHEN Y'ALL WANT IT TO.

I UNDERSTAND HOW UNPOPULAR THAT IS BECAUSE I HAD TO WALK THESE HALLWAYS AND I DIDN'T LET ANYBODY GET BEHIND ME FOR A WHILE BECAUSE HE'S A BIT HOSTILE AROUND HERE.

BUT IF WE HADN'T HAVE DONE WHAT WE DID TO TAKE THOSE STEPS, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE PEOPLE HERE NOW.

YOU'D HAVE TO LAY SOME PEOPLE OFF.

THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS PRETTY MUCH LIKE WHAT JUSTICE KEITH FINALLY GOT TO AT THE END OF HIS DISCUSSION WAS THAT, I MEAN, TRYING TO MOVE PAST 5% NOW AND THEN IN JANUARY DOING ANOTHER 5%, IT JUST LET'S LET'S JUST DO IT.

I MEAN, BECAUSE IF FOR SOME REASON AND I GOD FORBID, THAT WE FEEL WE HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, WHO ARE WE? WE CAN DO THAT.

I'M GUESSING I'M ASSUMING WE COULD DO THAT.

BUT I MEAN, SO WHY NOT DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOW WE HAVE IT.

WELL, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE.

THERE'S STILL THE MOTION ON THE TABLE FOR THE 5%.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S WHY I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING I'M JUST TRYING TO I GET SOME OF THE LOGIC BEHIND DOING FIVE NOW.

BUT IF, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO.

WHY WAIT AND DO ANOTHER FIVE IN JANUARY? I MEAN, THAT'S ALSO ASSUMING THAT THE NEXT BUDGET COMMITTEE IS GOING TO CALL THAT MEETING AND SEEING ALL OF THAT.

SO, I MEAN, TO ME, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY BENEFIT OF WAITING UNTIL I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER BENEFIT, BUT THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN SEE.

I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN JANUARY, JUST LET'S JUST DO IT NOW.

BUT ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE OTHER LIVES THAT ARE ON JUSTICE.

LEWIS AND YOU RECOGNIZED.

THANK YOU. WELL, I JUST THINK WE SHOULD HONOR OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM STAYED AROUND DURING COVID.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAD CHANCES TO GO OTHER PLACES.

[01:35:01]

AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO HALF NOW AND HALF IN JANUARY, JUST, I JUST FEEL WE SHOULD GIVE IT TO THEM.

THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.

THANK YOU. JUSTICE CONEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

I'M ALONG WITH. I'M GOING ALONG WITH THIS HONORABLE WHATEVER LEWISON BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS CRAZY OUT HERE. THE GAS PRICES ARE HIGH.

EVERYTHING. AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF EMPLOYEES IN HERE THAT'S BARELY MAKING IT BACK.

NOW, AT THE AGE WHERE THEY RAISED SOME KIDS, THEY NEED THE MONEY.

GROCERIES ARE HIGH.

YOU EMPLOYED, YOU DON'T GET FOOD STAMPS.

YOU GOT TO WORK FOR WHAT YOU WANT.

WE GOT THE MONEY. LET'S PAY THEM 10%.

ONE VOTE. OKAY? OKAY. THANK YOU, JUSTICE CONEY.

JUSTICE GREEN, YOU RECOGNIZED.

WELL, NOBODY'S GOING TO GO ALONG WITH ME.

WHAT I'VE GOT TO SAY, BECAUSE THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN TRYING TO COMPARE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITH LRPD EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMPARING COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES.

IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

THE COUNTY IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT LRPD DOES.

I'M TELLING YOU WHAT I KNOW.

AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO WHY THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE LEAVING THERE ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS?.. WITH THE 10%, IT WOULDN'T BE THE MONEY.

WELL WELL, I'M JUST SAYING.

I'M JUST SAYING EVERYBODY IS NOT LEAVING BECAUSE.

BECAUSE OF THE SALARIES.

I AGREE. I'M JUST SAYING THAT AND I YIELD.

OKAY. POINT OF CLARIFICATION.

I MEAN, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS A PART OF THIS, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SOLE PARTY.

THEY ARE NOT THE SOLE MAKEUP OF PULASKI COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

THERE'S MANY, THERE'S A COMPTROLLER, THERE'S THERE'S THE JUDGE'S OFFICE, THERE'S COUNTY SERVICES, COMMUNITY SERVICES.

THEY'RE ON AND ON AND ON.

SO WE ARE SPEAKING.

SO, NO, WE WERE ON THE WHOLE BUDGET.

SO SPEAKING AND I MEAN, SO SPEAKING IN REGARDS TO THAT 10%, I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO GET IF THAT'S WHAT JOHANSON SAYS.

SO I'M GOING TO NOW RECOGNIZE JUSTICE STOWERS.

STOWERS, YOU GOT IT.

THANK YOU, MISS MASSEY, YOU'RE.

I UNDERSTAND COMPETITIVENESS.

I UNDERSTAND INFLATION.

I THINK WE'VE ALL FELT IT.

THE MORE MONEY WE PUT INTO THE ECONOMY, THE WORSE IT'S GOING TO GET, WHICH IS WHAT WE CONTINUE TO DO.

WE CONTINUE TO DUMP FUEL ON THE FIRE.

I RESPECT MY COLLEAGUES IN THIS ROOM.

HOWEVER, I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE GO ALONG WITH ONE FELL SWOOP OF A 10% INCREASE.

GIVEN WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE OVER THE LAST 18 TO 24 MONTHS.

YOU MENTIONED PEOPLE WORKING THROUGH THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

WELL, YES, IN FACT, MOST PEOPLE ENDED UP BEING ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME.

NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. I KIND OF ENJOYED DOING IT MYSELF.

BUT YEAH, IT MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND GAS OR, YOU KNOW, CLOTHES OR ANYTHING ELSE TO GO TO WORK.

SO, YOU KNOW, I GET THE COMPETITIVENESS.

I GET THE INFLATIONARY PERSPECTIVE.

IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL GOOD TO ME.

I'M NOT GOING TO THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT WITH YOU, WITH YOU ALL ON THIS 10% IN ONE FELL SWOOP THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE BUDGET, THAT, YOU KNOW, IT CAME UP A WHILE AGO, OVER 75% OF IT GOES TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I CANNOT IN WITH GOOD FAITH AND NOT KNOWING FOR SURE WHAT TOMORROW OR NEXT MONTH OR NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BRING VOTE FOR THIS KIND OF AN INCREASE. IF THERE WAS A NATURAL DISASTER OR A MANMADE DISASTER OF SOME SORT, I THINK WE'RE GOING DOWN A ROAD THAT COULD PUT US BACK VERY, VERY QUICKLY WHERE WE WERE IN 2005.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT PATHWAY TO GO, AND I YIELD WITH THAT.

THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS.

JUSTICE LEWISON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, MR. STOWERS, THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HOME, I MEAN, THEY HAD TO PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILL.

THEY HAD TO PAY THEIR GAS BILL.

THEY HAD TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL.

SO WHEN YOU'RE HOME, YOU'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING MORE MONEY ON SOME OF THOSE UTILITIES.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO FORGET TO SAY THAT.

SO I'M JUST REMINDING YOU.

THANK YOU. WELL, OF COURSE.

OR DO YOU? THE NEXT PERSON IS JUST AS CONEY.

BEFORE I RECOGNIZE HER, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT I'M NOT EVEN GOING BACK TO THE PANDEMIC I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

[01:40:02]

AND I KNOW WE HAVE 4%.

I MEAN, 5%. THAT'S ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

BUT I'M JUST SAYING 10% IS WHAT MANY OF US WANT TO SEE TAKE PLACE.

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO GO BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED THEN, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE NEED IT FOR WHATEVER THE REASON MAY BE.

EVERYTHING IS HIGHER NOW.

AND THE JOHANSEN STUDY RECOMMENDED AND WE SAY WE SUPPORT JOHANSEN.

SO I THINK IT IS TIME TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT.

THIS IS ONLY GOING TO PUSH US FURTHER BEHIND IF WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT.

JUSTICE CONEY, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

YOU SAID WHAT I WANTED TO SAY, BUT MR. STOWERS WOULD JUST ADVISE YOU I WORK FROM HOME INTERNET.

YOU HAD TO HAVE IT IN ORDER TO WORK, AND NOBODY GAVE US MONEY ON THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S EXPENSIVE.

AND THEN YOU WORKING EXTRA BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IN THE OFFICE WHERE YOU CAN PLAY, WALK DOWN THE HALL AND TALK.

YOU ON THE CLOCK.

SO THESE PEOPLE NEED THEIR MONEY AND I'M YIELDING, THANK YOU.

OOPS. SORRY. SORRY.

THANK YOU JUSTICE CONEY. JUSTICE KEITH, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.

AND I PROMISE I'LL BE QUICK.

AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT MR. STOWERS HAS SAID. MY, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU LOOK ACROSS, WELL, I TRY NOT TO BRING MY PERSONAL BUSINESS IN HERE, SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT AT THE DOOR AND WITH THAT, I CALL THE QUESTION.

WE OWN ON WHAT'S? SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, YOU GUYS SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON IT WITHOUT CALLING THE QUESTION.

OH, OKAY. WELL, YOU'RE VOTING ON IS HIS MOTION TO DO A 5% OKAY.

YEAH. NO, YOU CAN'T COMPEL THE NEXT QUORUM COURT FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR THE FIVE.

SO THE MOTION IS A 5%.

SO THAT'S FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S YES. SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS 10%.

MR. STOWERS HAS MADE AN AMENDMENT TO CUT IT DOWN TO 5%.

SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS, DO YOU WANT TO ADOPT A 5%? CLEAR. YES.

CALL] DON'T LEAVE HIM.

TWO EYES, FIVE NAYS.

THE MOTION FAILS.

SO THAT MOTION FAILED.

WE'RE BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL MOTION.

OUR ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION.

THANK YOU. SO THERE WAS NEVER.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE MOTION WAS MADE TO ADOPT THE 10% RECOMMENDATION.

WE'VE HAD I THINK WE'VE HAD ALL THE DISCUSSION WE NEED TO HAVE.

SO, JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? YES, MA'AM.

FIVE AYES, TWO NAYS.

MOTION PASSES.

THE FULL QUORUM COURT.

THAT CONCLUDES YOUR BUSINESS AS FAR AS I KNOW, HUTCH WILL BE OUT OF TOWN IF WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I APPRECIATE THE THANK Y'ALL.

THANK YOU. CAN WE GET IT? GREAT. I'M JUST GOING ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS TO GET THIS THING DONE.

GETS MY PEOPLE MORE TIME.

WE PUT THIS TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, DON. THANK YOU.

THANK. THANK YOU ALL. NOW, MOTION.

CAN WE GET IT? CAN WE.

CAN WE GET A MOTION? A MOTION TO ADJOURN, PLEASE.

ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

I HAVE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU GUYS.

IT'S HARD WORK AND GOOD JOB, GUYS.

SO THAT WAS JUST TO BUTTON BUDGET MEETINGS? I THINK. I THINK I FEEL ANOTHER ONE COMING ON NEXT WEEK OR WEEK AFTER.

WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.