WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1069

AN ACT FOR THE OZARKA COLLEGE APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR.

2026 Fiscal Session

The bill provides the 2026-2027 funding package for Ozarka College to maintain staffing, operations, and capital needs, effective July 1, 2026.

Notification that HB1069 is now Act 57
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1069

Summary of HB 1069 (2026F) – Ozarka College Appropriation for 2026-2027

Purpose and Intent

  • HB 1069 is a state appropriation bill for Ozarka College for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
  • The bill provides funding for personal services (regular salaries and “extra help”) and operating expenses, with additional allocations for capital-related items and other designated costs.
  • It declares emergency status to ensure funds become effective on July 1, 2026, enabling uninterrupted college operations.

Key Provisions

Section 1 – Regular Salaries and Administrative Positions

  • Establishes the maximum number of regular, twelve-month Educational and General (E&G) positions for 2026-2027, including:
    • President: 1 position with a maximum annual salary of $214,799.
    • IT Pool: 3 positions with a combined listing of multiple IT-related roles and salary figures (e.g., Network Engineer at $207,404; various IT staff with individual salaries ranging roughly from $52,766 to $133,122, depending on title).
    • Chief Administrative officers (e.g., Chief Academic Officer; Vice-President for Admin. Services; Chief Planning Officer; Chief Fiscal Officer; Chief Student Officer; Chief Development Officer) with individual salary limits (e.g., Chief Academic Officer at $172,403; Chief Development Officer at $161,670; etc.).
    • Other administrative and academic leadership roles with specified titles and salaries (e.g., Registrar, Director of Financial Aid, Directors for various functions, Division Chairpersons, Librarian, Instructors, Faculty, etc.).
    • A total maximum of 220 employees across all categories (regular/administrative, academic, and auxiliary).

Section 2 – Extra Help (Temporary/Part-Time)

  • Authorizes up to 100 Extra Help employees for the fiscal year, paid at rates not exceeding the Uniform Classification and Compensation Act standards or those in this act.

Section 3 – State Operations Appropriation

  • Regular Salaries: $3,510,000
  • Extra Help: $125,000
  • Personal Services Matching: $1,000,000
  • Maintenance & General Operation (Operating Expenses): $9,419
  • Total (State Operations): $4,644,419

Section 4 – Cash Funds Appropriation

  • Regular Salaries: $4,500,000
  • Extra Help: $300,000
  • Overtime: $1,000
  • Personal Services Matching: $3,000,000
  • Maintenance & General Operation:
    • Operating Expense: $5,000,000
    • Conference & Travel: $100,000
    • Professional Fees: $200,000
    • Capital Outlay: $600,000
    • Data Processing: $0
  • Capital Improvements: $1,000,000
  • Debt Service: $750,000
  • Promotional Items: $50,000
  • Total (Cash Funds): $15,501,000

Note: The “Cash Funds” category represents funds that Ozarka College would control independently from state general funds, such as student fees, auxiliary revenues, or other dedicated revenues.

Section 5 – Compliance with Other Laws

  • Requires funds to be disbursed in accordance with applicable state procurement, budgeting, and accounting laws, and related regulations.

Section 6 – Legislative Intent

  • Reiterates intent that funds be used in alignment with agency requests, executive recommendations, and legislative recommendations reflected in budget manuals and official testimony.

Section 7 – Emergency Clause

  • Declares an emergency, ensuring the act takes effect on July 1, 2026, despite potential session timing delays.

Who/What Is Affected

  • Ozarka College (Arkansas) and its:
    • Administrative and academic leadership positions
    • IT and support staff
    • Faculty (including 40 full-time and 90 part-time nine-month teaching positions)
    • Auxiliary services staff (food service, housekeeping, childcare, security, etc.)
    • Operational budgets for regular salaries, benefits, and operating expenses
    • Capital projects and debt service related to campus operations

Timing and Fiscal Implications

  • Effective July 1, 2026 (emergency clause) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
  • Total appropriations (combined state operations and cash funds) amount to:
    • State Operations: $4,644,419
    • Cash Funds: $15,501,000
    • Grand Total: $20,145,419
  • The act designates “Personal Services Matching” funds in both state and cash fund portions, indicating state and college-level matching requirements to support salaries and benefits.

Practical Impact

  • Provides comprehensive funding to maintain Ozarka College’s staffing levels and operations for 2026-2027.
  • Supports a wide range of positions, from executive leadership to IT staff, administrative personnel, faculty, and student services.
  • Enables campus operations, capital improvements, and debt service planning through cash-funded allocations.
  • Ensures continuity of operations with an expedited effective date due to the emergency clause.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise bullet-point briefing for policymakers or a comparison with the prior year’s appropriations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.