Raises, capital spending highlights of new Arkansas-side annual budget

Texarkana, Arkansas, City Hall and Municipal Building, 216 Walnut St., in April 2019.
Texarkana, Arkansas, City Hall and Municipal Building, 216 Walnut St., in April 2019.

TEXARKANA, Ark. - Across-the-board pay raises for city staff, new hiring and spending on infrastructure were featured in a new annual budget presented to the city Board of Directors on Thursday.

The proposed 2021 budget, which City Manager Kenny Haskin characterized as the best in 35 years, predicts total revenues of more than $28.5 million and expenditures of more than $31.3 million, leaving a general fund balance at year's end of more than $5.4 million.

"We've got a little bit in this budget for everyone, including and more importantly our infrastructure, which is critical for this city, and we certainly know we need those funds in those areas," Haskin said.

A 2.5% pay raise is proposed for all city employees, including police officers and firefighters, Finance Director TyRhonda Henderson told the Board.

"I appreciate being told that when the money is there, we will give raises, and when it is not, we will not. And that is just common sense. That's not robbing Peter to pay Paul like has been done in the past, where we are very short in some departments and it's hard for us to keep up," Director Terri Peavy said.

The budget sets aside $50,000 to hire one new animal shelter kennel tech and move another from part time to full time. Another $81,000 would go toward hiring two new equipment operators for the city Streets Department.

"The two more employees is going to be a massive help. I'll be able to split up crews better, to have multiple crews working. Right now I've got crews for asphalt, for concrete, for environmental, that sort of thing. This will enable me to have, say, more than one crew for asphalt work, or something like that, so we can get double the work done with two different crews," Public Works Director Tyler Richards said.

Planned capital spending includes $12,500 for a new copier for the Finance Department. The Police Department would receive $15,000 for 12 desktop computers, $100,000 for five camera systems an additional body cameras and $250,000 for five fully equipped Ford Explorer patrol vehicles.

The Fire Department would get $35,000 for hydraulic rescue tools, $21,000 for a heating and air-c0nditioning unit, $12,000 for a commercial washer, $45,000 for staff cars, $400,000 for a new pumper truck and $125,000 for a new brush truck.

The budget also plans for drainage improvements and improvements to Joey Lane, Sanderson Lane, Tennessee Road, East 46th Street and Jefferson Avenue.

"I don't know that in my history of keeping up with the city's business, even way before I became mayor, that I've ever seen such a proactive, pro-city budget on behalf of not only the employees of the city but also the citizens of the city," Mayor Allen Brown said.

The Board will have to vote to approve the budget. Henderson said it would be ready to come before the Board by its next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 2.

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