By Ray King
Efforts to remove a section of a resolution authorizing the mayor or a designated representative to approve payments for invoices from funds appropriated by the city council failed to win approval during a special meeting of the council Thursday.
The vote came before the council voted unanimously to approve the 2022 city budget following meetings to make changes to the budget recommended by Mayor Shirley Washington.
Council member Glen Brown Sr., led the effort to remove Section 4 of the resolution, saying that resolutions in previous years did not contain that language.
City Attorney Althea Hadden-Scott told Brown that the section he was concerned about came from a recommendation from the Arkansas Municipal League which sent out a sample of budget resolutions it recommended cities use.
This exchange between Brown Sr., and Mayor Shirley Washington followed that statement.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel will be receiving a 10-percent raise after 10 existing positions were initially cut. After that cut, there was more than $144,000 left so two of the 10 positions that had originally been cut were restored.
Also eliminated was the position of procurement administration at a salary of $61,109 and money that had been set aside for utilities repairs at the Aquatic Center and parks.
The total 2022 municipal budget is just over $71 million.
