Jefferson County Judge Gerald Robinson has vetoed a proposed 2025 budget adopted at a special meeting of the Quorum Court citing deficiencies in the procedure to adopt the budget.
His veto message follows, then a message from former Justice of the Peace Lloyd Franklin Jr., whose term ended at midnight Tuesday and during his two years in office was a constant critic of Robinson.
“Out of an abundance of Caution, I hereby Veto the purported 2025 budget ordinance passed on 12-30-2024 because of the numerous legal deficiencies in the notice, form, and substance of the three meetings, including, but not limited to, the failure to comply with the statutory requirements contained in Ark. Code. Ann. 14-14-904(c)(3)(B) for a special meeting based upon an emergency.”
Judge Robinson Et al.
I am not an attorney, but I can read, and it appears Attorney Wynne is engaging in a play on words yet again. The statute, ACA 14-14-904, is very specific. Upon closer inspection of the section, he refers to as “Section 3B,” it seems he may have overlooked the full scope of the statute. The statute clearly pertains to meetings of less than a quorum of the Quorum Court, specifically regular and special committee meetings. It does not apply to full Quorum Court meetings, which only require 24-hour notice, whether they are emergency or special meetings. I believe you should revisit this matter with your attorney to ensure his interpretation is correct.
Attorney Wynne, I urge you to reconsider or retract your opinion by 12:00 noon on December 31, 2024. As it stands, your current stance is likely to prompt the filing of a formal complaint, not only regarding this issue but also addressing a record of opinions issued by you that appear to deviate from the spirit of the law and instead align with the personal positions of Judge Robinson. Several members of the Quorum Court are prepared to bring these concerns to the attention of the Bar Association.
It is disheartening that County Judge Robinson and five Justices—Dr. Conley Byrd, Patricia Johnson, Danny Holcomb, Ted Harden, and Roy Agee—appear more interested in obstructing the county’s ability to operate effectively by withholding participation in legal meetings or providing constructive solutions for the 2025 budget. Rather than assisting in expediting the process through a single meeting and a 9-vote passage, they leave the burden on others to navigate the more time-consuming process of three separate meetings with three readings. Their inaction has provided no assistance in resolving the budget issues, and their approach seems to prioritize forcing budget cuts to increase Judge Robinson’s own budget over supporting the county’s elected officials.
It is evident that Judge Robinson has no intention of passing a budget for 2025 this year. There has been no attempt on his behalf to even schedule a meeting after his budget was defeated. Through a coordinated effort with Attorney Wynne and five compromised Justices, they have spent the entire year bullying and pressuring this Quorum Court into submission. The collective actions of Judge Robinson, these Justices, and Attorney Wynne to obstruct the Quorum Court from merely amending the budget highlight the extent of their coordinated corruption.
Judge Robinson’s handling of appropriations exemplifies wasteful spending. Despite having unspent funds in his budget—such as $149,000 left in the Buildings and Grounds budget—he has requested an additional $175,000 for his office and Buildings and Grounds. This includes an additional $40,000 appropriation for Buildings and Grounds when funds were not even exhausted. Such practices are unheard of, and it’s alarming that the five Justices continue to support this behavior, which undermines the efficiency and resources of other elected officials. The cuts to the budgets of elected officials were entirely unnecessary and served no legitimate purpose. Instead, they were intended to impose undue hardship and deprive resources from the offices of officials who do not align with Judge Robinson. This same motive is why employees did not receive bonuses this year.
Despite the lack of assistance from Judge Robinson and his supporters, budget issues have been addressed. Prosecuting Attorney Kyle Hunter, whom the Quorum Court recognizes by law as the county attorney, has confirmed the legality of the meetings would be held under the law prior to the Quorum Court meeting. I urge Judge Robinson and Attorney Wynne to thoroughly review the statute before making incomplete or inaccurate assertions. To clarify, this was not a committee meeting—it was a full Quorum Court meeting.
For reference, Ark. Code Ann. 14-14-904(c)(3) states:
(A) Notice of assembly of a county grievance committee or assembly of less than a quorum of the body, referred to under this section as a “regular committee” or “special committee,” may be provided upon oral notice to the members of at least forty-eight (48) hours unless an emergency exists.
(B) If an emergency exists, written notice of at least twenty-four (24) hours stating the basis of the emergency shall be provided.
On January 1, my term on the Quorum Court will end, and I will become a taxpayer with standing. I will dedicate my time, attention, and resources to exposing the actions of these five Justices and their support of Judge Robinson’s mismanagement, corruption, malfeasance and disrespect toward other elected officials. By continuing to support these additional appropriations, they contribute to the lack of resources for vital county services for citizens in county offices, including road maintenance. Rest assured, their actions will not go unnoticed, and the day of accountability is approaching.
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All headlines we would all choose to avoid.
Dr. Conley Byrd, Patricia Johnson, Danny Holcomb, Ted Harden, and Roy Agee despite all the disheartening and concerning information brought to the forefront by myself, other legislators, elected officials, citizens of Jefferson County and Arkansas Legislative Audit you seem dead set on following the one person at the center of the corruption off a cliff. The one person who can’t stay within his budget. The one person who seemly has violated more laws than any elected official in the history of Jefferson County. You support a budget which robs all other elected officials of their budget to add more appropriates to Judge Robinson. No other county wide elected official supports Judge Robinsons Budget but him and you 5 Justices. Not the Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Treasure, Assessor, Tax Collector, Sherrif, Corner, District Judge, etc. How do you just abandon your integrity and support collusion and corruption. Judge Robinson may be the root of the problem, but you give the problem legs and power. I think it’s time for your 5 minutes of fame. I look forward to diverting my talents to focusing on you and your action in 2025.
Dr. Conley Byrd, Patricia Johnson, Danny Holcomb, Ted Harden, and Roy Agee, despite the disheartening and deeply troubling information presented by me, other legislators, elected officials, citizens of Jefferson County, and even the Arkansas Legislative Audit, you remain steadfast in blindly following the one individual at the heart of this corruption. This is the same individual who cannot stay within his budget, who appears to have violated more laws than any elected official in the history of Jefferson County, and whose mismanagement you continue to support.
You stand behind a budget that strips resources from every other elected official to funnel additional appropriations into Judge Robinson’s office. Not a single countywide elected official—be it the Circuit Clerk, County Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, Tax Collector, Sheriff, Coroner, or District Judge—supports this budget. 8 out of 13 JP’s don’t support his budget. Yet, you align yourselves with Judge Robinson, abandoning your integrity to support blatant collusion and corruption.
While Judge Robinson may be the root of this problem, your unwavering support gives his corruption the legs and power to persist. Your actions are a betrayal of your duties and the trust placed in you by the people of Jefferson County.
The time has come to hold you accountable. Your actions will no longer go unchecked, and I look forward to redirecting my talents in 2025 to focus on exposing your complicity and the consequences of your choices. Your five minutes of fame are long overdue.
