Miller County’s Smith Park receives improvement grants

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Miller County property tax collections along with $1.2 million in county general investment will likely be able to keep the county general fund balance good headed into next year, officials say.

Although the current county general fund balance, as of Monday, show the county’s general fund to be only $5,600 in the black, Miller County Tax Collector Laura Bates said this year’s property tax collections brought in at least $745,000 that will be deposited in the county’s general fund by Nov. 10.

Along with the property tax income, Miller County Budget and Finance Committee Chairman said the county’s overall general investment fund amounts to about $1.2 million.

Chairman Earnest Pender said in year’s past the investment fund has helped ensure a fund balance during leaner years.

In other business, Miller County Judge’s Administrative Assistant Carla Jenkins, said Smith Park is receiving $20,000 in Arkansas State Conservation grant funds for plumbing and electrical materials needed for continuing construction of a new restroom and shower building.

Along with plumbing and electrical supplies, the park also received $30,000 of the same type of grant funding for building material and supplies for constructing walking trails, bridges, benches and picnic tables in the park.

County officials plan to meet again at 1 p.m, Thursday, for a Correctional Center, Jail and Juvenile Detention Center Committee meeting in the Miller County Sheriff ’s Office Conference room. They plan to continue discussing architecture and design proposals for expanding the jail to house an additional 48 to 60 beds.