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Randolph County freezes pay raises, more to come

by Stan Morris e-mail | Twitter

POCAHONTAS, AR (KAIT) - Randolph County employees will not receive pay increases in 2010. This decision came after the Quorum Court trimmed Randolph County's budget to avoid any shortcomings.

According to County Judge, David Jansen, the county is in the hole about $210,000. While bad, it was originally under by $382,000 before Monday's special budget meeting.

Cuts have been made to all departments. Aside from pay freezes, the Randolph County Sheriff's Department was affected after money requested for new vehicles was denied.

Last year, county citizens voted down a 1% sales tax increase. Jansen says another sales tax increase will be on next year's ballot, and if that does not pass, the county's only option will be a millage increase (which can be imposed without voter approval), layoffs, or taking more money from the county's emergency savings account, which is where the $210,000 deficit was taken this time.

Jansen says all options are unpopular, but if nothing is done, "The county will be flat broke in 4 years."

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