Quorum Court approves 2019 budget

The Miller County Quorum Court unanimously approved a $19.7 million budget Monday.

"We appreciate the weeks of work the budget committee did to get a budget approved," said Justice of the Peace Ernest Pender, chairman of the budget committee.

The projected revenue for 2019 will be $19,797,305, while the total 2019 budget request is $17,967,849.

"We took a leap of faith to increase the Sheriff's Department budget. This should increase the retention rate of the deputies," Pender said.

To train a deputy, the cost is $20,000 and the officers usually go to work for another department. With the increase in pay, the retention rate should improve, said Pender.

The major portion of the budget includes:

  • Sheriff's Department: $2 million
  • Juvenile Detention Center: $1.2 million
  • Total 2019 budget for county general: $7.1 million
  • Road fund-total projected revenues: $3.8 million
  • Total 2019 budget request for road fund: $3.8 million
  • Jail maintenance and operation projected revenues: $3.4 million
  • Jail maintenance budget request: $3.3 million
  • Pay raises have been earmarked for Miller County, Ark., elected officials and some employees based on revenues increases.
  • Following are the proposed pay raises including the position and the pay:
  • County judge and sheriff both receive $56,000 annual salary, which is a 6 percent increase.
  • County clerk, treasurer, collector, assessor and circuit clerk will get $45,000 per position.
  • The pay for the coroner will stay the same at $17,961.
  • The payroll clerk's pay will be raised to $27,910, or an 11 percent increase.

The county also has six chief deputy positions with a proposed salary of $28,500 each, or 10 percent raises.

At the end of the meeting Monday, Pender presented a plaque to outgoing County Judge Roy John McNatt.

Pender praised McNatt, saying "with deepest appreciation" that he has been dedicated as a county judge.

A copy of the 2019 budget has been filed in the Miller County Clerk's Office and shall be available for inspection and copying by any person during normal office hours in the courthouse.

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