Jefferson County JPs table proposal to cut workers' salaries

PINE BLUFF -- Jefferson County officials are heading back to their financial drawing board to figure out how to pay many of their workers next month.

The Jefferson County Quorum Court voted 8-5 Monday night to table a proposed ordinance that would have reduced salaries of employees who are paid from the county's general fund. The move would have saved enough money to meet the payroll, but several justices of the peace objected to the measure, saying more discussion is needed before they decide whether to take money out of workers' pockets.

"I just want to make sure we have worked hard enough in other areas to cut funds before we start cutting our workers' salaries," said Justice of the Peace Bruce Lockett.

The Quorum Court's finance committee will meet at 8 a.m. Monday to "consider all options," committee Chairman Herman Ginger said.

Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin II said reducing salaries should be "a last resort only. I just don't feel comfortable that we have done enough to ensure that we can pay our workers without asking them to accept less money."

The county spends $600,000 each month on salaries out of $750,000 allotted for expenses. Tax revenue has been in steady decline over the past two decades as the county's population has dwindled.

Since 2000, Jefferson County has lost more than 11,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The county's current population is 73,191, according to a 2013 census estimate.

Under the money-saving proposal, the offices of the Jefferson County treasurer, tax collector and assessor would be exempt from cuts because their offices are self-funded. Reducing all other salaries that are paid from the county general fund by 20 percent would potentially save the county $120,000 per month, according to the proposal.

Elected officials' salaries would not be cut. Arkansas Code Annotated 14-14-1203 states that those salaries cannot be changed during the officials' terms.

To keep the county operating without interruption, the proposal calls for elected officials "to structure the reductions in any manner which they deem feasible to maintain office hours consistent with current office hours and may offset reductions by any other funding sources to which they have access and authority over."

Ginger and other Quorum Court members say the county can no longer afford all of its workers, and department heads must "figure out how to reduce their staff."

Justice of the Peace Conley Byrd Jr. said tough decisions will need to be made if the county is to continue operating.

"No one wants this," he said. "But there is a chance that if we don't do this, no one will be employed next month. We will have to close the doors. If department heads can figure out other areas to cut 20 percent from their budgets, I am all for that."

State Desk on 06/30/2015

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