11/13/2026 Board of Directors - Budget Hearing

The City of Fort Smith Board of Directors held a 2027 budget hearing on November 13, 2026, reviewing third-quarter 2026 finances and the proposed 2027 operating budget. Procurement practices were a major topic: directors discussed whether to centralize procurement, standardize procedures, improve outreach to potential bidders beyond legally required advertising, and consolidate common purchases to leverage citywide spending. Finance reported two staff members dedicated to procurement, with some large construction procurements handled by Engineering. The discussion also covered reverse auctions through eBridge for certain commodities and concerns that the process may discourage some vendors from bidding. Directors requested a citywide summary of major spending categories and travel, and further information on procurement practices; no procurement awards or budget votes were taken during the meeting.

Capital and utility spending discussions included water-treatment work in the proposed budget—approximately $3.5 million for Lake Fort Smith backwash lagoon cleaning, $1.2 million for filtration media, and $1.05 million for a pump replacement—and a proposal to expand in-house street overlay work, with staff estimating costs of roughly $6.5–$7 million compared with about $15.1 million for contracted work. The board also discussed how to finance consent-decree and other water and sewer infrastructure needs, including the $100 million in issued bonds (about $70 million reportedly tied to approved contracts) and the possibility of further borrowing in 2028. Directors called for an early-2027 strategic planning session and regular project-and-funding updates. Other follow-up requests included evaluating procurement centralization and bidder outreach, providing spending and salary information, and examining options for future infrastructure and grant funding. The 2027 budget remained under review; no contract awards or spending motions were adopted in the transcript.