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The Baxter County Quorum Court approved the county’s 2026 budget Tuesday night, maintaining conservative spending levels well below state requirements while also addressing compensation concerns for justices of the peace.
The budget, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, allocates 82% of projected revenues, staying well under the 90% threshold required by Arkansas law. The Budget Committee, which met Oct. 21, reviewed revenue and expense projections along with various department requests for increases in the new year.
“Budget committee recommends our elected officials and department heads to maintaining fiscal restraint and continue acting as popular stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Budget Committee Chair Dennis Frank reported during the meeting.
County Treasurer Jenay Mize reported positive financial news for the current fiscal year, with sales tax collections up 2.8% over last year, generating approximately $14,965 in additional revenue. County General funds are running 4.2% over projections at $208,000 above estimates, while jail funds are 3.5% over projections at $77,000.
Mize thanked elected officials and department heads for successfully using the new budget process, noting that implementation “went really well.”
The court also addressed long-standing compensation concerns after learning that Baxter County ranks lowest among all Class 4 counties in Arkansas for justice of the peace compensation. Following discussion from the Arkansas Association of Counties, which raised the issue with local officials, the court approved increasing the per diem rate from $375 to $400 and adding the same annual increase available to other Baxter County employees.
Committee meeting compensation was also increased to $100.
Several appropriation ordinances were approved during the meeting, including $8,493.28 in fees and reimbursements received in September for the Sheriff’s Office budget, $30,000 transferred from emergency 911 funds into the emergency 911 2025 budget, and $24,500 from K-9 funds into the K-9 2025 budget.
County Judge Kevin Litty noted the 911 funding was related to the county switching to the state network with updated equipment from AT&T.
The court passed its annual ordinance levying millage taxes on political subdivisions within Baxter County for 2025. This is a standard yearly requirement that authorizes tax collections by various entities within the county.
No taxing entities requested millage increases for the coming year.
The court confirmed multiple appointments and reappointments to volunteer fire protection district boards throughout the county. Jeff Berry, Julie Moody, and Mari Ruegsegger were reappointed to the Rodney-Jordan Volunteer Fire Protection District Board for three-year terms expiring October 2028. Will Gregory and Kevin Bodenhamer were reappointed to the Mountain Home Rural Fire Protection District Board, also for terms expiring October 2028.
For the Midway Fire Protection District, Ryan Wayland was appointed and William Harakidas was reappointed, both for three-year terms expiring November 2028. All fire board appointments were confirmed by unanimous vote.
The meeting concluded with a reminder that December’s Quorum Court meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, Dec. 1.
