→ Here’s more information on the 2025 budget process in an email JPs received from the Washington County Comptroller last week:
“Per your request, attached is a spreadsheet that contains a side by side comparison of labor cost by department with and without the proposed Step Plan.
Talking Points:
With Step Plan
Labor Cost of Total Budget with $10,000,000 ARPA Funds: Labor = $63,332,131 Total Budget = $127,194,183 Labor Percent: 49.8%
Labor Cost of Budget without $10,000,000 ARPA Funds: Labor = $63,332,131 Total Budget = $117,194,183 Labor Percent: 54.0%
Without Step Plan
Labor Cost of Total Budget with $10,000,000 ARPA Funds: Labor = $62,242,396 Total Budget = $127,194,183 Labor Percent: 48.9%
Labor Cost of Budget without $10,000,000 ARPA Funds: Labor = $62,242,396 Total Budget = $117,194,183 Labor Percent: 53.1%
Please keep in mind that departments are still budgeting 20 to 25 vacancies; therefore, the actual labor cost to be expected next year after salary sweeps would be lower. My guess is that it would decrease the Labor Percent by about 2%.”
Here's more:
Link to “Easy Read” STEP Plan. Budget Control Requests. Quorum Court Budget Discussion 9/10/24.
2025 Budget “Talking Points” as shared with all JPs.
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→ As of 11/1/24, 44% of all registered voters in Washington County have voted! That’s a record, but still a long way to go. Update: Another 2,370 votes were cast Saturday, bringing the total to 46% of registered voters this date.
→ If you need a ride to the polls, complete this short form: https://forms.gle/jg3BDWPpeix7qWYE7
or text 479-799-9691 with the subject “Poll Ride Requested.” The Washington County Democrats are sponsoring this service designed to assist those who may have difficulty with transportation.
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→ As of 3:00 PM, 11/3/24, there are no county meetings posted on the county calendar for the week of 11/3/24. The Washington County Courthouse will be closed next Monday 11/11/24 in observance of Veterans Day. The next scheduled meeting is a combined County Services meeting and Finance & Budget on 11/12/24.
→ Please mark your calendars for Tuesday 11/12/24. I am bringing an ordinance to add three (3) new positions to the Public Defender’s Office for 2025. With 517 people (per last month’s report) that are being held in our jail pre-trial, adding these new positions will help move cases through the justice system while ensuring that everyone receives equal justice and representation.
The American Bar Association says that the caseload for public defenders should be no more than 150 felony cases per attorney per year. For misdemeanor cases, the ABA recommends a maximum of 400 cases annually. Our overworked public defenders have caseloads that exceed these recommendations.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY MEETINGS FROM LAST WEEK:
→ The Washington County Planning Board met for a short meeting Thursday 10/31/24. You can view the entire meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/live/3ljA66ne-RM?si=nmKEEir9Eq4v76vU
At 33:34 in the video, Mr. Sam Ata, Planning Director, mentions that the new zoning ordinance will be on the agenda for the combined County Services/Finance & Budget Meeting, 6:00 PM, Tuesday, 11/12/24, Washington County Courthouse.
All the agenda items from last week were approved by the board, to-wit:
A. Janice Hyde Variance 18524 S Hwy 71, Winslow, Arkansas.
B. Pleasure Heights Church Conditional Use Permit (CUP) Request for Earthplan Design Alternatives-EDA, 17405 Pleasure Heights Road, Springdale, Arkansas. Proposed use: Church
C. Billy Peoples Minor Subdivision Land Development Hearing. Applicant Taylor McBridge, 14323 N Wedington Blacktop (WC 33), Lincoln, Arkansas. Proposed use: Single-family residential.
D. Carney Minor Subdivision Land Development Request. Applicant Bates & Associates, 10221 S Jackson Hwy WC 669, Lincoln, Arkansas. Proposed use: Single- family residential.
E. Allen Meadow Estates Preliminary Subdivision Request. Applicant Dan Cole, Sand Creek Engineering and Land Surveying, 18550 Harmon Road, WC 31, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Proposed use: Single-family residential.
→ The Washington County Election Commission met Friday morning 11/1/24 at 9:00 am. The meeting can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/u0A5fFWhDy8?si=OkAc244GvlTdE0Wl
Due to construction at the regular Election Day polling site at Trinity Methodist Church, 1021 W. Sycamore Street was closed and people who usually vote in those precincts may now vote at the Veterans Administration Building, 62 W. North Street, Fayetteville.
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🌟 Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins has cut funding for the HIV Clinic in Washington County for 2025. (We’ve already appropriated funding for all of 2024)
Here are links to the documents I received from the county judge through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act:
Here is a Zip file to the documents I received from Washington County Deputy Attorney Catherine Baker in response to my FOIA request.
The budget for the HIV Clinic for 2024 was $193,389.80.
This decision was made by the executive branch without any public discussion during a quorum court meeting to inform the JPs.
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🌟 I have also been informed that the budget for the Washington County Legal Help Desk at the Historic Courthouse on Friday mornings has been defunded. Again, this is a quorum court matter, not the county judge or anyone else. We should be voting on this, too.
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🌟 NEW ZONING LAWS: The zoning ordinance will be on the agenda for Tuesday, 11/12/24 at 6:00 PM. That’s when we next meet in a combined County Services and Finance & Budget meeting. This is the most up-to-date copy I have.
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🌟 DETENTION CENTER INFORMATION 11/3/24
As of 11/3/24, there are at least 748 people locked away in our Washington County Detention Center. Most of the people in our jail are “pre-trial” which means they’ve been arrested and/or charged, but are awaiting trial or their day in court. They have not been convicted.
The count is likely higher than the 748 shown on the public facing dashboard, as “restricted bookings” are not posted for the public.
Here’s the link to the Detailed Charge Report:
You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.
READ AND STUDY THE 2020 CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENT STUDY PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS HERE. READ AND LEARN WHY WE DO NOT NEED TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON JAIL EXPANSIONS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE!
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COUNTY BID POSTINGS 11/3/24
🌟 No new bid/RFP postings this week. Here’s the link to current RFQs and bids:
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COUNTY JOB OPENINGS THIS WEEK (10/27/24)
Here’s a link to the current job postings:
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🌟 WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED?🌟
ATTEND AS MANY MEETINGS OF THE QUORUM COURT AND ITS SUBCOMMITTEES AS YOU CAN. CHECK MY WEBSITE WWW.BETHCOGER.COM FOR DATES AND TIMES.
CONTACT JUDGE DEAKINS AND TELL HIM YOU WANT OUR CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT TO REOPEN AND ASK HIM TO GET TO WORK ON FINDING ANOTHER VENDOR BECAUSE WE CAN DO HARD THINGS.
Continue to ask Judge Deakins to appoint members to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee and get that group up and running! This is too important. If you haven’t called, please do so, or send email, or go by the courthouse and speak to the judge in person. WHAT’S NEXT? WHY WON’T JUDGE DEAKINS APPOINT MEMBERS AND ACTIVATE THIS COMMITTEE AND LET IT GET TO WORK? ASK HIM.
Contact your JP and set up a time to meet them for coffee or just to get together. Become a regular voice in their ear and urge them to support criminal justice reform and be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. That’s how I got started advocating to the court back in 2019. CAN YOU TAKE AN HOUR OR TWO AND MEET WITH YOUR JP AND SHARE YOUR CONCERNS OR COMMENTS, OR WHATEVER YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.
Share this Newsletter with your friends and neighbors!
Write letters to the editor. letters@nwadg.com
Do you have a court date in Benton or Washington County? Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJRC) has a program to train volunteers to offer practical, procedural, and emotional support during your court hearing. From a reassuring check-in before your court date, to standing by your side on the day of court. Everyone deserves to be heard, supported, and understood.
To request a Court Support Volunteer, please fill out the Courtside Support Request Form. Questions? Concerns? Reach out to us at arkansasjusticereform@gmail.org.
To become a volunteer, contact AJRC at 479-345-1150 or the above email. They provide training that will help make you become a great Court Support Volunteer.
Here’s how you can contact your county officials. We need to hear from you!!
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