# 10/13/2026 Board of Directors - Study Session


**Body:** City of Fort Smith, Arkansas
**Date:** October 12, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Construction & Infrastructure, Public Safety, Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding


The City of Fort Smith Board of Directors’ October 13, 2026 study session focused on distributing the proposed 2027 operating budget and reviewing capital improvement plans; the budget and plans were not finally approved. Board members questioned recurring costs and subsidies, including approximately $1 million for convention-center operations, a proposed 20% increase in Animal Haven’s contract, copier leases, and $30,000 for grants-management software. Directors called for further review of the OVG contract and vendor performance, and said they wanted to identify recurring savings to fund firefighter compensation. The proposed budget includes a 10.7% average firefighter increase, while the draft ordinance under discussion would provide 13.7%, leaving an estimated $375,000 gap. Several directors supported finding that amount within the budget and opposed a supplemental alcohol-tax increase; no final compensation vote was taken.

Capital plans included a solid-waste program estimate of about $12.3 million for 2027, including an estimated $7 million landfill cell moved forward from 2028; officials said it would be funded through service-rate revenues and proposed no new fee increase. Parks outlined projects funded by the voter-approved 18-cent sales tax, including replacing the Tillis Park splash pad, resurfacing tennis courts, and advancing a Kelly Park ballfields restroom project. Police presented a five-year plan with about $6.14 million in 2027 expenses, including vehicle purchases, an Axon contract, and replacement drones; a one-time $786,345 general-fund reserve contribution was projected. Fire officials discussed aging stations and rising apparatus costs. Transit also presented its federally required asset-management plan. The board moved to place the five capital plans on the November 2 agenda for consideration and scheduled a November 13 budget meeting; no contract awards or bids were approved.

**Source:** City of Fort Smith, Arkansas