The government shutdown in Jefferson County continues as legislative action starts to take control

Pine Bluff, Arkansas – The quorum court’s inability to approve a 2025 budget has resulted in a government shutdown in Jefferson County for more than a month. Following the meeting on Tuesday night, the closure continues.

Two budget ordinances were on the budget and finance committee’s agenda prior to the full Jefferson County quorum court meeting.

The secondary budget that was developed by numerous justices of the peace and department heads and presented by the county clerk’s office was the first budget ordinance.

The secondary budget was tabled indefinitely by the budget and finance committee after a vote, which meant that the full quorum court would not hear it.

The committee sent Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson’s office’s updated budget to the entire quorum court.

The budget was the only one read to the entire quorum court during tonight’s meeting, even though it had previously been rejected by the court.

Reginald Johnson, the Justice of the Peace for District Three, stated, “There is no way we can get anything through those committees because those people commonly agree with the judge.”

By introducing a different motion to the floor during the meeting, Johnson attempted to accomplish something despite the committees’ overwhelming odds against the majority of the justices.

“I propose a motion to substitute the 2024 budget with all of its amendments for the budget you are putting forward,” Johnson stated.

“I want to deal with what is on the agenda tonight,” the county judge said in response.
“If you wish to bring that up, you can do so in a special meeting; it’s not on the floor,” Robinson stated.

Legislation at the State Capitol then became a topic of discussion after the comment.
“The budget I’m referring to is the same budget that we used last year and that they will implement in a few days,” Johnson stated.

If approved, Senate Bill 182 would mandate that counties and localities submit their annual budgets by February 7th of each year. If it doesn’t, it will go back to using the previously approved budget to ensure that county services are rendered and all employees are paid.

During the hearing, Terry Wynne, the Jefferson County Attorney, spoke on the proposal, saying it poses a question because the 2024 budget might not be legitimate.

Wynne questioned, “What does that mean exactly because I don’t know that this body ever actually approved a budget?”

Many of the justices of the peace, including Alfred Carroll for District One, engaged in heated discussions with the county judge.

The county judge made the decision to call for a vote at that point. The county judge’s office’s budget was once again rejected by the vote.

Since they only needed seven to establish a quorum court meeting and nine to hold a vote, many in the crowd urged the justices of the peace to stay. Only seven remained, though, and nothing more was done.