Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is predicting that legislation to get Jefferson County employees paid could be adopted as early as next week.
Appearing at a press conference on Monday, Sanders said this.
Sanders was talking about legislation introduced Monday that provides that if a county cannot adopt a budget for the calendar year, it reverts back to the budget for the previous year.
Jefferson County employees have not been paid since December after seven members of the Quorum Court refused to approve a 2-25 budget prepared by County Judge Gerald Robinson. The judge in turn refused to introduce a 2025 budget the JP’s prepared, complaining that it included unauthorized raises and created a position in the county clerk’s office for a legislative clerk, a position that already exists in the judge’s office.
Before introducing State Senator Ben Gilmore and Representative Glen Barnes, Sanders talked about some of the letters she has received from county residents.
Gilmore, a Republican from Crossett is sponsoring the legislation in the State Senate.
Barnes, a Democrat from Pine Bluff is sponsoring the legislation with Democratic Representative Ken Ferguson and Republican Representative Mike Holcomb, both of Pine Bluff.