3 items gain Pulaski County Budget Committee endorsement

The Pulaski County Budget Committee unanimously endorsed three budget items Thursday, including two for the county clerk.

The full Pulaski County Quorum Court will still need to vote on the items.

Justice of the Peace Phil Stowers commended County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth for "keeping her budget under control" with an increase of only $11,000.

The justices of the peace also backed the circuit clerk recorder's $8,409 increase for the real estate division. The division is under the circuit/county clerk's office.

County Treasurer Debra Buckner said her department had worn out servers, and she cited the shift to remote work in requesting an adjustment to the Pulaski County Automation Fund. The justices of the peace supported moving the request to the full Quorum Court.

The next Budget Committee meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the Public Defender Department, the Juvenile Detention Department, the Election Commission Department and the 11th Division Circuit Court.

Sheriff's funding bid notes covid-19 jobs

Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins is asking for an increased budget to pay for new positions related to covid-19.

That is the only major change to the budget, according to Higgins, who said he will not ask for more funding to deal with maintenance issues in the jail.

Higgins told the Quorum Court during a special meeting Sept. 1 about multiple equipment issues within the jail, including outdated and unreliable locks and out-of-order door-control panels.

The sheriff's enforcement, detention and detention-medical department budgets are scheduled for a Quorum Court discussion Nov. 5.

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