PINE BLUFF -- Jefferson County officials have hammered out a 2016 budget after months of negotiations.
Justices of the peace approved a more than $12.3 million county general budget Tuesday night by a vote of 10-2, Jefferson County Judge Dutch King said.
Some budget trimming took place before the final document was approved, including $400,000 from the adult jail's funding.
Earlier this year, justices of the peace held numerous meetings during a budget crisis that nearly led to a missed payroll for county employees. The Quorum Court passed a measure in July that temporarily shored up the county's struggling 2015 budget and ensured that workers were paid.
But King and several justices of the peace repeatedly warned that layoffs may be needed to help balance future budgets. There was no talk of layoffs during the 2016 budgeting process.
Budgets for 2016 county departments include:
• $1.5 million for the juvenile jail;
• $638,448 for Juvenile Justice Education;
• $600,000 for the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Library System;
• $502,765 for recycling activities;
• $484,668 for maintenance and operation of Jefferson County District Court;
• $98,420 for the prosecutor's victim witness fund;
• $85,587 for the victims of crime program at the prosecutor's office;
• $60,000 for jury fees for circuit court;
• $47,850 for maintenance and operations for the public defender's office;
• $44,576 for the Tri-County Drug Task Force;
• $30,000 for emergency vehicles;
• $23,933 to pay for a part-time environmental enforcement officer; and
• $4,250 for Jefferson County Drug Court.
State Desk on 12/23/2015