PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Several Jefferson County Quorum Court members met Thursday night amid an ongoing struggle to pass a county budget for 2025, though without the county judge present.
Seven of the county’s 13 justices attended the meeting. Judge Gerald Robinson sent an email to the justices prior to the meeting saying the quorum court could not meet without the judge’s consent.
“’I don’t consent.’ That is what he sends in an email,” District 3 Justice of the Peace Reginald Johnson said.
According to the Association of Arkansas Counties, the county judge does not have to be present for a quorum court meeting.
The quorum court members chose District 1 Justice Alfred Carroll to chair the meeting. Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter answered procedure questions from the members to give insight to those in attendance.
“Only the quorum court can appropriate money, so only the quorum court can approve a budget,” Hunter said.
Several community members also shared their concerns about the ongoing budget impasse and the impact it has had.
“This isn’t only affecting the workers, but it is affecting our children,” one person said during public comment.
“You do not have government, you have a dictatorship, and that is a problem,” another person said.
Though no vote took place, the public asked for the budget created by Sheriff Lafayette Woods and multiple justices to be presented and compared to the one created by the judge’s office.
Some of the justices present at the meeting shared they don’t support the budget created by the judge’s office.
“If we don’t stand together that budget will pass and cut jobs and cut salaries,” Carroll said.
No announcement has been made on when the next quorum court meeting will be held.
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