JP Coger's Washington County UPdate 9/7/25
- Beth Coger
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 hour ago
THINGS TO KNOW:
➽ Washington County Quorum Court Finance & Budget Committee meets Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College, Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is an in person meeting only. The meeting will be live streamed here on the county’s YouTube channel.
Here is the agenda.
➽ Item 4.1: Treasurer’s Report
8/1/25 General Fund balance $18,468,751.74 . 8/31/25 Balance $16,420,660.08
8/1/25 ARPA Revenue Replacement Fund $8,786,679.92. 8/31/25 balance $7,610,030.98
Jail Maintenance & Operation 8/1/25 balance $8,331,175.64. Expenditures of $2,010,870.35 and income of $2,070,867.17 8/31/25 balance $8,391,172.46
American Rescue Plan Act 8/1/25 balance $7,924,613.45 . Expenditures $804,051.84. 7/31/25 balance $7,149,390.12. This account had $28,828.51
Law Library fund 8/1/25 balance $383,239.22. Income of $11,945.69. Expenditures $84,662.81 and 8/31/25 balance $310,522.10
Community Rebuilding Initiative 8/1/31 balance $297,658.73; revenue of $45,401.67; expenditures of $43,835.33 and end balance of $299,255.07
Property Taxes received 8/25 = $527,734.67 with YTD = $10,571,353.12
One Cent Sales Tax 60% General and 40% Road received in August $957,800.88 with YTD = $7,531,053.90 (5.47% increase from same time last year)
Quarter Cent Sales Tax JAIL 8/25 = $1,487,771.48 with YTD = $11,548,667.39 (6.46% over same time last year)
Public Comment:
At the end of the meeting (12 minutes total; 3 minutes per speaker).
Another 12-minute comment period occurs before any ordinance or resolution vote.
AGENDA ITEMS I AM HIGHLIGHTING:
💰 2026 Budget Process Begins
BUDGET DISCUSSIONS/PRESENTATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTS:
Item 7: Prosecuting Attorney Office
Item 8: IT Department
Item 9: Sheriff/Jail
Item 10: Roads Department
Here is the link to the Master Budget 2026 that was provided to all JPs 8/15/25: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1lthtvArR5NLbRd0rZk84Xti6ufMtt2gP/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103549546239687116712&rtpof=true&sd=true
(“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21)
I would love to hear your thoughts on the budget and what your priorities are.
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Let’s recap last week’s County Services meeting:
Watch last week’s County Services meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/live/JhJAud3rSHI?si=ekVh_e1O113JGb2s
At the beginning of the meeting, before adoption of the agenda, JP Brad Bruns made a motion to remove Item 7 – a discussion of the Sheriff Office investigation –from the agenda. This was seconded by JP Butch Pond. That motion failed. Watch the video at 5:21 and see how many hands you count.
However, (27:05 in the video) when Item 7 came up on the agenda (very shortly thereafter), a motion was made to table the discussion of the investigation indefinitely in order to seek an opinion from the Attorney General to see if we could even discuss this matter, or is it a "personnel matter?" This passed.
Next up was the ordinance transferring various positions from the sheriff’s office to their respective departments in the county. At 44:34 in the video, Judge Deakins requested that matter be continued until the discussion on the investigation, whenever that is.
I thought we should go ahead and hear the ordinance, especially since we’re starting the budget process and that would be affected by switching these positions.
I am disappointed that the court chose to postpone the discussion regarding the investigation at the Sheriff’s Office. This issue is not minor — it concerns public trust, accountability, and the proper use of taxpayer resources. Our responsibility as Justices of the Peace is to ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of county government. Delaying this conversation sends the wrong message to the public — that we are unwilling to address serious allegations head-on. The people of Washington County deserve timely answers, not delay.
There were some excellent public comments at the public comment period. Thank you to everyone who came and spoke. All the public comments concerned the proposed wind energy project in Washington County.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER:
As of 9/6/25, there were 707 individuals detained at the Washington County Detention Center. 89 of those are listed as either “homeless” or “1832 S School” the address of 7 Hills Homeless Shelter.
As of Tuesday’s County Services meeting:
309 Prisoners: 40
Sleeping on floor: 153*
ADC Commitments: 121
Women in jail: 128
Covid Positive: 0
Quarantine: 0
Vacancies in Detention: 28
Vacancies in Enforcement: 1
Federal Prisoners: 84
ADC Commitments: 172
*Per Sheriff Cantrell “...we lost our 96 bed minimum security facility…” to the Covid Mitigation Project, thus the higher number of people sleeping on the floor.
Here’s the link to the Detailed Charge Report:
You can check the “Calls for Service” board here.
Here’s a list in alphabetical order to search for people.
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County Bid Postings (as of 9/6/25)
Bid: 2025-10 due 9/8/25 at 4:00 PM: opening date 9/9/25. This is a bid for a “fuel island system” for the road department.
View all RFQs and bids [here].
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County Job Openings (as of 9/6/25).
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 / HR | |
Temporary | Open Until Filled | 14/Hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.25 - $23.42/hr | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $21.91 - $24.14 | |
Part Time | Open Until Filled | $16 | |
Full Time | Open Until Filled | $18 Hr |
Below is the link for all posted job openings in Washington County. The road department and sheriff’s offices are almost always hiring. The road department is 479-444-1610. The sheriff’s office is 479-444-5700.