Community members speak out amid Jefferson County payroll controversy
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ark. – Jefferson County employees are without pay on Tuesday after the county judge refused to sign the April 30 payroll in an ongoing controversy.
Last week county judge Gerald Robinson issued two court orders, one of which requested that the county clerk reduce Tuesday’s payroll by nearly $5,000 which includes payment to two county employees.
Jefferson County clerk speaks out on payroll delay, disagreement
County clerk Shawndra Taggart said she doesn’t have the authority nor does the county judge to remove or make changes to any elected official’s payroll submission for their employees.
Community members got together Tuesday to speak out about this and other concerns in the county.
It was a packed room with county employees and community members. They say they’re hurt by how this situation has been handled and many of them rely on their paychecks.
Ashley Butler works for the Jefferson County 911 call center and is one of about 400 employees affected. She said this is causing hardship in her household.
“it’s just dread all around,” Butler said.
She said after not receiving pay, she will not be going to work Wednesday.
“I can’t work for a place that doesn’t want to pay me,” Butler said.
Dispute between judge and clerk’s office may delay pay to Jefferson County employees
KARK 4 News has reached out to the county judge multiple times. A representative from his office said that he will not sign off until two employees in his court order are taken off the payroll.
Now they are calling on county assessor Gloria Tillman to remove them and resubmit the payroll list to the clerk’s office.
“I don’t think it’s fair to either one of them, they’ve earned their time and they should be paid for it,” Tillman said.
Tillman said if the judge believes she or her employees have done something wrong, it should be handled differently and not penalize the entire county.
Butler said she loves her job and doesn’t want to leave but is doing what she feels like she has to do.
“it’s hard because there is so much running in the back of my mind, i have so much i have to get, so much I have to pay,” Butler said.
Several elected officials, including the sheriff, were in attendance. The sheriff said he is encouraging their employees to come into work tomorrow, for the safety of all people in Jefferson County.
Other elected officials said they’ll be at work Wednesday but can’t speak for their employees.
Jefferson County Quorum Court files lawsuit against county judge
Another person with the 911 center said that there will be some people taking calls.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
