After about 20-minutes of discussion, Alexander council members approved the 2026 budget. It was Council Member Joy Gray, a council member since 2017, who opened a can of worms when she questioned how the budget will handle emergency purchases.
Gray’s concerns centered around the fire department. There are issues with the current building on South Alexander Road. It’s being repaired and improvements are being made on the inside. There’s also a plan to build near the police department at the former Human Development Center, allowing the department to move out of the current structure. Gray is concerned about funding the unforeseen emergency.
“If something comes up later …” Gray said. “Yeah, their budget wasn't shorted, you know. If something came up, like if the equipment or whatever,” (they can fund the emergency).
Mayor Crystal Herrmann said, “I think we're really fortunate and we've all worked really hard with the finances to get to the point where we do have a small safety net in general funds now.”
Council Member Angela Griffin resurrected her suggestion from last year about including a line-item in the general fund for future infrastructure improvements. There wasn’t so much a disagreement that the city should be stashing away revenue for a rainy day, but the how was the bigger question.
At the end of the 20-minute discussion it was noted any emergency funding needs would come from the general fund. And, as in the past, the council will have final approval.
Below is a comparison of the estimated final 2025 Budget and the 2026 Budget. Actual totals for 2025 won’t be available until January or February, 2026. At that time, the council will approve the final 2025 budget.
General Fund Budget
Parks Department Budget
Street Department Budget
Police Department Budget
Fire Department Budget
Payroll Fund Budget
Other news from the December 15 meeting:
Planning and Zoning:
Ample Storage is still working with the highway department concerning the widening of Highway 5. The widening project requires the removal of a portion of Ample Storage’s wall and buildings. For the past several years Ample Storage owners have been moving storage facilities away from Highway 5.
Streets and Parks Department:
“Meanwhile we did have a discovery of the sewer line, that is, that we probably own even though we don't have a sewer” (system), Herrmann said. “We do have a sewer line that runs from the 63 acres (former Alexander Human Development Center) and then it ties in into” the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA) in North Alexander.
LRWRA provides sewer service to the Pulaski County portion of Alexander.
The sewer line was pierced when a utility company bored under Highway 111 in front of the entrance to St. Joseph’s Glen.
Police Department:
“So we responded to a hundred seventy nine calls for service last month,” Preator said. “Fifty-five of those were reportable. Once again, these guys are out working three hundred and nine traffic stops last month. A hundred and fifty two of those were citations. A hundred and 79 more warnings. Served 22 warrants. Had a three D.W.I. arrests. Fourteen felony arrests and 21 misdemeanor arrests.”
Chief Preator then turned to Christmas. He said a plan was developed to provide gifts to needy children in Alexander.
“We raised money during fall fest for Christmas,” Preator began. “We were kind of in limbo of what we were going to do,” (with the money).
At the suggestion of Mayor Herrmann the Chief said they setup the, “Santa Box out the PD (Police Department). Forty-two letters in 24 hours is what we ended up getting. And they all live in our city. They all live here.”
“(T)hese kids are not asking for outrageous things,” Preator said. “They're asking me; one kid ask for snacks. ... I think what we're going to do, and we was (sic) going to do it today until all this stuff happened next week. Walmart has agreed to help us out on some of the things because there's like 11 or 12 bicycles on the list.”
Preator said he posted to social media for monetary donations to add to what was raised during Christmas in the Park. He said the response was substantial and helpful.
Fire Department
McCormick also reported on helping Conway firefighters attend a funeral for one of their own. During the funeral Alexander, and other departments, covered for the Conway Fire Department.
Code Enforcement/Animal Control
Financial update
“So the sales tax was, each of them were $71,367.30. …. October (total) was $214,102” Hill began. “And, your general fund reconciled for November at $1,995,476.35. Your police reconciled at $73,813.43. Your fire reconciled at $335,288.17. Your parks reconciled at $269,126.16. Your streets were at $296,052.79. Payroll was $46,286.45. And the events (fund) at the [sic] $81.17.”
Next Meeting