BENTONVILLE — Benton County’s justices of the peace put the brakes on a proposed road program, citing the need to examine other priorities.
The Quorum Court’s Committee of the Whole voted Tuesday to return the proposed six-year road program to the Finance Committee for discussion.
The plan was discussed Feb. 7 by the Transportation Committee, which forwarded it to the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee voted March 5 to send it to the Committee of the Whole despite questions about the proposal.
At A Glance
Second Amendment Concerns
Benton County’s justices of the peace raised concerns about federal rules or regulations attached to a grant that might affect gun ownership in Benton County. The justices of the peace asked County Attorney George Spence to review a Department of Justice Grant that Sheriff Kelley Cradduck is seeking to help pay for a software program for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Cradduck said last week the software will make information already on hand at the Sheriff’s Office more readily accessible and give the Sheriff’s Office access to information complied by other agencies that use the same program.
Source: Staff Report
The Road Department drafted a plan to use revenue from a statewide sales tax increase for highways and transportation needs and a short-term increase in county money for an accelerated paving and maintenance program.
Benton County’s share of the 10-year tax has been estimated at $12.8 million, providing about $1.2 million which must be used for road work and transportation needs.
The Road Department plan would increase the annual money transfer by about $5.2 million over six years. The department would use the increased money to pave more roads over the six years of the plan, after which the annual transfer would be reduced for four years to return the $5.2 million to reserve, ending the program with no reduction in reserve.
Justice of the Peace Tom Allen, finance chairman, said he’s concerned the county is considering spending money from reserve when the state sales tax is set to provide additional money for the roads.
“There’s such a thing as contentedness,” Allen said. “We’re going to get this sales tax money but we’re not content with that. We’re going to borrow from our reserve. That’s not the way I do business. I know the plan says we’re going to pay it back. I don’t think it will happen. If you do your family budget that way it doesn’t get paid back.”
Other justices of the peace expressed frustration they didn’t have specific information. Justice of the Peace Mike McKenzie said he wanted to know how the roads in the work plan were chosen and prioritized.
Justice of the Peace Barry Moehring wanted to know what different colors on the spreadsheet detailing the plan meant and criticized staff for not providing that information before the meeting. Cindy Jones with the Road Department said the colors were used to help the department read across the spreadsheet lines and had no other significance.
Justice of the Peace Steve Curry said he favored proceeding with the 2013 work on the plan, since the justices of the peace earlier decided they wouldn’t pay for more than one year at a time. Curry said if the county’s financial health changed for the worse, the Quorum Court could curtail the plan in the future.
“It sounds to me like we’re kicking the can again,” Curry said. “That half-cent sales tax was put in there for a reason, let’s use it.”
Justice of the Peace Kevin Harrison also said the county should move forward with the first year of the plan. He said the Quorum Court authorized additional money for road work in 2012 and said this plan was no different.
“Last year we gave the Road Department a little extra money,” Harrison said. “Even though this is a six-year plan, in the following years we don’t have to do it. Next year, if we see we can’t afford it, we can cut back.”
Justice of the Peace Kurt Moore suggested the committee might approve a smaller transfer, but that suggestion received no support Tuesday, It was included in a list for discussion when the plan returns to the Finance Committee. Allen said he couldn’t support any changes to the plan without a more detailed discussion. He also said the county should consider making do with the state sales tax money.
“As far as using that half-cent sales tax, that’s precisely what I’m advocating,” Allen said. “But what’s before us now is to borrow from our savings.
“I think we should be content with that,” Allen said of the anticipated sales tax revenue. “It’s a windfall. Let’s use it before we commit this other money, which is precious to us.”