GRAVETTE CITY COUNCIL’S - Battle Of The Budget

GRAVETTE — Maybe the third time will be charmed when the Gravette City Council meets Thursday evening, as they mull the city’s 2010 budget.

At a special meeting last Tuesday night, the Council approved a budget. But they really didn’t, because the required enabling ordinance was not read and passed.

The vote at that meeting, at which all six Council members were present,was 4-2 in favor: Kurt Maddox, Brent Cannon, Chris Beller and Terry King voted for the $1,263,647 budget; Patrick Hall and Byron Warren opposed the measure.

Special Meeting

A special meeting was held last Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. to reconsider the budget and its required ordinance. Council members Maddox and Beller were not present.

The original budget document remained unchanged except to tweak the amount required to fund an additional 10 hours per week for a part time patrol officer. The additional amount was approximately $2,000.

The measure failed when the four members present split their vote. Two members, Hall and Warren, voted nay; King and Cannon, aye. Four votesare required to approve the measure.

Another Special Meeting

A special meeting, to again consider the budget, will be held this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. It will precede the Council’s regular meeting which will follow.

Read accompanying stories concerning budget items and other action taken at the original Council meeting.