Arkansas-side Board could vote on pay plan Monday

The Texarkana, Arkansas, Board of Directors on Monday will revisit a police and firefighter pay proposal for the final time and could vote on whether to approve it.

During a regular meeting, the board will hear a third and final reading of an ordinance sponsored by Assistant Mayor Linda Teeters that attempts to resolve an ongoing pay dispute. New ordinances must be read in public three times before the Board may vote on them

The ordinance sets forth contingencies for police and firefighter pay raises depending on the city’s financial status in a given year. The plan is meant to find an agreeable solution to pay parity after more than 20 years of dispute over a pair of quarter-cent sales taxes enacted to keep Arkansasside police and firefighter salaries commensurate with those in Texarkana, Texas.

Members of the Board of Directors and City Manager Kenny Haskin have expressed urgency in coming to an agreement in light of a lawsuit that could rule the sales taxes unconstitutional, potentially costing the city millions of dollars a year in revenue.

The Board will also con

duct a public hearing and vote on granting the Police Department permission to apply for a federal law enforcement grant called the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant.

If awarded the grant, the Police Department would get about 67% of the funds, $10,941, and the Miller County Sheriff’s Office would get the remainder, $5,389. The police plan to use the funds to buy six laptop computers.

The agenda includes a citizen communication time during which members of the public may address the Board on any topic for up to five minutes each.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 216 Walnut St.