An update on employee pay, accountability, transparency, and what comes next
The Washington County Quorum Court is finishing work on the 2026 county budget, which will return for an important vote under Old Business at our December 18, 2025 meeting. I want to share where things stand, what I pushed for, what passed and what did not, and why timing and process matter for county employees and taxpayers.
I also want to thank residents who attended meetings, submitted written questions, and spoke during public comment. Those questions improve the process, and I encourage the public to keep asking them.
Why Passing the Budget So Late Matters
Passing the county budget this late in the year causes problems. Once the budget is approved, county Human Resources staff must manually key in step raises for hundreds of employees before January 1. That work cannot begin until the budget is final.
At our November Quorum Court meeting, the budget failed to pass by one vote. That delay placed staff under real pressure heading into the holidays. Even when there are policy disagreements, I take the impact on county employees seriously.
Proposed Cost-of-Living Raises for County Employees (Failed)
I introduced an amendment to provide a 2.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all county employees, in addition to the step raises adopted last year.
The reason was simple:
- Inflation continues to reduce real pay
- Retaining experienced employees is getting harder
- Step raises alone do not keep up with rising costs
That amendment did not receive enough support to pass from either side of the aisle. The reason was that we didn't have enough left in our reserves after accounting for the county's obligations, including rising health insurance costs, and other needs and wants. While disappointing, this issue is not going away. I plan to push for a serious COLA discussion early in the 2027 budget cycle.
Step Raises for Public Defenders (Approved)
One issue that did result in a positive change involved Public Defenders.
Because of unclear wording in the 2025 budget, county-paid Public Defenders were left out of the step-raise system. This resulted in unfair and unequal pay treatment.
Public Defenders:
- Perform constitutionally required work
- Should be paid on the same scale as prosecutors
- Deserve predictable and transparent raises
The amended 2026 budget corrects this and places county-paid Public Defenders on the same step-raise plan as other county employees.
New Road Department Equipment (Leasing Approved)
This fall, the Quorum Court spent significant time reviewing Road Department equipment as 13 Caterpillar road grader contracts expire next year.
We discussed:
- Leasing versus purchasing
- Caterpillar versus John Deere
- Trade-in values
- Maintenance and service costs
- Long-term value to taxpayers
This was not an automatic renewal. These discussions took place over multiple meetings, especially during the September and October Budget and Finance Committee sessions.
The final decision was to lease equipment from John Deere, including a full service and maintenance plan, rather than purchasing equipment outright.
These machines are increasingly complex and rely heavily on advanced computer systems. Training staff to maintain them is more difficult and costly than in the past. Leasing transfers that risk and cost to the vendor.
Just as importantly, leasing is budget-neutral for taxpayers, while purchasing would have required approximately $1.6 million up front. My focus has been on ensuring decisions are based on long-term cost and value, not habit or convenience.
Oversight and Accountability at the Sheriff’s Department (Failed)
Earlier this year, the Arkansas State Police released a report detailing serious allegations involving misuse of county property and theft of funds within the Sheriff’s Department.
In response, I supported an amendment aimed at restoring oversight and bringing county operations back into line with state law. This was recommended to us by the Arkansas Association of Counties.
That amendment would have:
- Moved maintenance positions out from under the Sheriff’s Department
- Restored oversight that has been missing since 2018
- Addressed internal control weaknesses identified in the State Police report
These maintenance positions were moved in 2018 and have operated with little outside oversight since then. According to the State Police report, that lack of oversight is where many of the problems occurred.
The amendment did not pass. I disagreed with that outcome, and I continue to believe accountability and transparency are essential in every department, including elected offices.
You can read more about the Arkansas State Police report here.
Why Some Department Budgets Increased in 2026
Some budget increases reflect structural and accounting changes, not new or unchecked spending.
Information Technology
The IT budget increased because the county is centralizing online software subscriptions, such as DocuSign, that were previously spread across departments. This eliminates duplication and makes costs clearer and easier to track.
Quorum Court
The Quorum Court budget increased to reflect organizations that come directly to the Court for funding. This places those costs where the decisions are actually made.
Examples include:
- Illinois River Watershed Project
- Beaver Watershed Alliance
These organizations provide county-wide services. Their funding requests are heard publicly and approved through Quorum Court votes.
Why Some Authorized Positions Are Unfunded
Many public questions focus on why some positions are approved but not funded. This is intentional.
Beginning with the 2025 budget, the county stopped funding open positions until someone is actually hired. In the past, funded vacancies could be used to grow personnel budgets mid-year without clear oversight.
Under the current system:
- Positions remain authorized
- Funding is requested when a hire is ready
- The Quorum Court must approve that funding
This improves transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
What Happens If the 2026 Budget Does Not Pass?
Last week, Comptroller Paul Sherman sent an internal memo explaining what would happen if the budget is not adopted by December 31.
County government would continue operating, but only at 2025 funding levels until a new budget is passed.
If the budget does not pass:
- Employee pay would be frozen at current levels, including step raises
- Department budgets would revert to 2025 levels, with required reductions in some cases
- Capital projects would be limited to remaining rollover funds
- Debt payments would continue as scheduled
This memo was sent for planning purposes, not because failure is expected. Still, it shows why December action matters, especially for county employees.
What Comes Next
Budgets reflect values, priorities, and process. Not every proposal I supported passed, but several important fixes and transparency measures did.
If you have concerns or questions about the 2026 budget, I encourage you to contact your Justice of the Peace and share your perspective. You can find the budget here. Public input matters.
The final vote on the 2026 budget will take place at the December 18, 2025 Quorum Court meeting, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Washington County Courthouse. I encourage anyone interested in county finances, transparency, and accountability to attend.