In this week’s edition of “The Official Word” local radio program, Independence County Judge Robert Griffin told White River Now’s Gary Bridgman that he does have concerns on how much the coronavirus-related economic slowdown will affect the budgets of each branch of county government.
Griffin said the County General Account, which funds many of the county government services, could wind up taking a beating, saying the fund could have $250,000 to $500,000 less in revenue to fund the next budget. Now, the judge said, is the time for those offices to begin exercising fiscal restraint.
The judge also issued a hiring freeze across the county.
“I’ve issued a hiring freeze across the county because in dealing with this, we still have indeterminate amounts of how much we’re going to lose,” Griffin told Gary B.
Using the road department’s base budget of $4 million and a possible 50 percent revenue reduction as an example, Griffin said he anticipates a $700,000 hit on that $4 million base budget.
To listen to the entire episode with Judge Griffin, click below. It will also air Wednesday around 9 a.m. on 93 KZLE. And the interview will be available in our podcast section on the White River Now app. The Official Word is sponsored by First Community Bank.
***
The new White River Now mobile app has started featuring regular COVID-19 updates and podcasts. In addition to the updates featured on the White River Now family of radio stations, the COVID-19 podcast section also features new interviews with Stone County Judge Stacey Avey, Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Independence County Judge Robert Griffin, state Sen. Stu Smith, and state Sen. James Sturch. Download the free White River Now mobile app today from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, and keep up-to-date on all local and state coronavirus information and to listen to the streams of White River Now radio stations.
We also carry live feeds of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s COVID-19’s briefings on-air at Arkansas 103.3, online at White River Now’s Facebook page, and through the Arkansas 103.3 stream on the White River Now mobile app on Arkansas 103.3.
Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning by listening to Gary B. on Ozark Newsline, broadcast from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and 99.5 Hits Now. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Add don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
