Signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires local governments to continue operating under their annual appropriations ordinance until a new appropriations ordinance is passed in Arkansas.

Highlights:

• Requires the annual appropriation ordinance from the previous year to be re-adopted for the next year, if the quorum court fails to pass another ordinance by January 1 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the expenditures of the county to continue to be paid by the appropriation ordinance from the previous year until a new annual ordinance is passed (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the payment of the salary of the county judge until an annual appropriation ordinance is adopted for the new year (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the payment of the per diem compensation for justices of the peace until an annual appropriation ordinance is adopted for the new year (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes municipality governments to adopt budget ordinances by February 1 of each year (Sec. 4).

• Requires the municipality governments to use the budget ordinance of the previous year, if the governing body fails to adopt a new ordinance by February 1 (Sec. 4).

• Limits the expenses of municipalities without new budget ordinances to the cost of (Sec. 4):

• The expenditures to maintain regular government services;

• Expenditures to protect the peace, health, and safety of residents;

• Expenditures to cover the payroll and benefits of municipal employees;

• Payments of contracts that were entered into in the previous year; and

• Payments of any outstanding debts or bonds, including interest.

• Specifies that this bill is effective immediately following the approval of the Governor (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires local governments to continue operating under their annual appropriations ordinance until a new appropriations ordinance is passed in Arkansas.

Highlights:

• Requires the annual appropriation ordinance from the previous year to be re-adopted for the next year, if the quorum court fails to pass another ordinance by January 1 (Sec. 1).

• Requires the expenditures of the county to continue to be paid by the appropriation ordinance from the previous year until a new annual ordinance is passed (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the payment of the salary of the county judge until an annual appropriation ordinance is adopted for the new year (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the payment of the per diem compensation for justices of the peace until an annual appropriation ordinance is adopted for the new year (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes municipality governments to adopt budget ordinances by February 1 of each year (Sec. 4).

• Requires the municipality governments to use the budget ordinance of the previous year, if the governing body fails to adopt a new ordinance by February 1 (Sec. 4).

• Limits the expenses of municipalities without new budget ordinances to the cost of (Sec. 4):

• The expenditures to maintain regular government services;

• Expenditures to protect the peace, health, and safety of residents;

• Expenditures to cover the payroll and benefits of municipal employees;

• Payments of contracts that were entered into in the previous year; and

• Payments of any outstanding debts or bonds, including interest.

• Specifies that this bill is effective immediately following the approval of the Governor (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text