2016 budget draft gets public review
A review of a preliminary 2016 city budget for North Little Rock is set for 4-6 p.m. Monday, preceding the regular City Council meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Council members will be able to question Mayor Joe Smith and city department heads about budget requests and suggest revisions. The council normally votes on the city budget during a regularly scheduled meeting in December after at least one public hearing.
The budget meeting is open to the public and will be televised on North Little Rock's government access channel, as are regular and special City Council meetings. Other budget workshops could be scheduled by Smith if necessary.
The draft budget shows a projected general fund of $64.2 million, a 4.3 percent increase over the 2015 budget of $61.5 million, according to city Finance Director Karen Scott.
Smith scheduled two budget workshops in 2013, his first year in office, and had one last year. This is the earliest that a draft budget has been presented to aldermen. The first workshop during each of the past two years was in early November.
Mayor appoints 2 as library trustees
Two new members will join the William F. Laman Public Library board of trustees.
Mayor Joe Smith appointed Alderman Steve Baxter and the city's Fit 2 Live coordinator, Bernadette Rhodes.
The pair will replace Alderman Murry Witcher and Charley Baxter, director of the Patrick Hays Senior Citizens Center. Both were appointed by Smith temporarily to fill out the trustees' panel during the library system's recent search for an executive director.
The Laman Library system consists of the main library, 2801 Orange St., and the Argenta Branch library, 420 Main St.
Dinner, auction set for animal shelter
A chili supper to benefit the North Little Rock Animal Shelter will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at Park Hill Christian Church, 4400 John F. Kennedy Blvd., sponsored by the North Little Rock Friends of Animals.
The cost will be $9 for adults and $6 for children ages 9-12.
The menu is to include different kinds of chili, nachos, punch, coffee and homemade desserts. Take-out meals will be available.
A silent auction will take place, and items will be sold to raise money for the shelter.
Fall Follies offers barbecue, music
The North Little Rock Woman's Club's annual Fall Follies Fundraiser will be Nov. 7 at the Patrick Hays Senior Citizens Center, 401 W. Pershing Blvd.
The public is invited. Tickets are $25.
A catered barbecue dinner, desserts made by club members and dance music will be included. A "country store" will also be available for gift buying.
Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the event will be used to provide phone cards for military members overseas, the Breast Clinic at Baptist Health and the club's other community projects.
Metro on 10/25/2015