Pine Bluff, Arkansas – Despite the absence of the county judge, a number of Jefferson County Quorum Court members convened Thursday evening in the midst of a continuing battle to approve a county budget for 2025.
Seven of the thirteen justices of the county attended the meeting. Before the meeting, Judge Gerald Robinson emailed the justices to inform them that the quorum court could not convene without his approval.
“I don’t give my consent.” “That’s what he emails,” said Reginald Johnson, the Justice of the Peace for District 3.
The Association of Arkansas Counties states that a quorum court hearing does not require the county judge to be present.
Justice Alfred Carroll of District 1 was selected by the quorum court members to preside over the session. In order to provide insight to those present, Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter responded to questions from the members regarding the procedure.
Hunter stated, “A budget can only be approved by the quorum court since only the quorum court has the authority to appropriate funds.”
Concerns regarding the current budget stalemate and its effects were also expressed by a number of community members.
During a public discussion, someone stated, “This isn’t just affecting the workers, it’s affecting our children.”
Another individual remarked, “You have a dictatorship, not a government, and that is a problem.”
The public requested that the budget prepared by Sheriff Lafayette Woods and other justices be shown and contrasted with the one prepared by the judge’s office, even though there was no vote.
A few justices who attended the meeting expressed their disapproval of the judge’s office’s budget.
Carroll stated, “That budget will pass and cut jobs and salaries if we don’t stand together.”
The date of the upcoming quorum court meeting has not been announced.
