The video of the meeting can be seen just below our story.

The budget ordinance was passed about ten minutes into the meeting, with Rose reading the major lines of spending:

·       For the elected offices, County Judge $76,225; County Clerk $204,562; Circuit clerk $194,215; Treasurer, $140,608; Collector $159,378; Assessor $318,200.

·       Equalization, board $2,700; Quorum. Court $39,30;  Courthouse maintenance $124,250; Elections $80,950; Grants in aid $7,500; Health department $57,650; Ambulance $20,000; Sheriff $507,050; Judge Duncan Culpeper, $29,069; Judge Joe Short $20,805; Jurors and witnesses $5,100; Probate $1,000; District Court $69,334.73.

·       Juvenile intake, 40,748; Prosecuting Attorney's Office $65,388.93;  Jail $90,000; Coroner  $23,463.94

·       Civil defense $61,700; Flood plain $850; State Weather Center $2,000; Parks and Recreation $6,600, VA service, $18,052.62; Extension Office $12,589 [Rose said later in the meeting this amount is a typo.  The court agreed to consult with Extension Agent Stacey Stone about this.  The item was at $58,503 the year before, JP Pruitt said.]

·       Other county expenses $33,000. Coronavirus $26,338 23; Arpin fund $23,168 58; Solid waste $1,014,350; Community facility and equipment $7,500; Road and bridge $2,191,175.

·       Wholesale fuel $90,000; Treasurer's auto $16,800; Collector’s Auto $8,000 District Court Auto $2700; Assessor’s Auto $6,500; County clerks Auto $2,000; Recorders $18,000 Library $130,692.18; Southwest management $80,000; Jail revenue $81,781.07.

·       County detention $15,000; Boating safety $500; 911 $447,916.22; Emergency vehicle, Act 988 $2,500; Public defender, $9,131; Victim witness $3,500; Adult drug court $350 Law Library $1,670. New jail $907, 700; Commissary fund $50,000.

All this adds up, Rose read, to $5,137,272.20.

After the meeting County Judge Mike Otwell said, “Things are holding good. The Quorum Court’s working real good, and they see and understand the needs, and they're coming forward, they're making the right moves. I think the people will see a great difference this next year.”

Sheriff Danny Martin was present to answer questions from the court.  He said the jail currently houses 38 inmates but would be expecting more and was getting ready for this.  In answer to a question from JP Dennis Pruitt, Martin said if the inmate number got above 68 more staff would need hiring.  

Martin reported the staff was down four positions now and was looking to fill those soon.  In answer to another question from Pruitt, Martin said the recent law passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to allow law enforcement agencies to recoup costs of training from officers leaving positions without serving out at least two years did not apply to jailers.

Stacey Stone told the court the Prescott High Agricultural Knowledge Quiz Bowl team had come in sixth nationally with one team member, Jermeire Purifoy ranking third individually. A pesticide applicator class took place last night for those wishing to be state certified to apply pesticides on their crops. 

JP Patricia Grimes praised the work of the county road crew. “I think for 16 people that cover this whole county, and with the rain we have gotten and everything else, I really think our roads have improved in the last year and a half, and I know they're going to improve even more,” she said, adding that the trash collections crew was also doing a fine job.

Adjournment took place after about 23 minutes of meeting time.