EARLE, Ark. — The city of Earle, Arkansas says money is tight. In fact, the city told WREG they are so strapped for cash they don’t have enough money to make payroll.
At the end of August, the Earle City Clerk Cynthia Conner sent a memo to city leaders telling them their excessive spending had landed them in a hole.
She explained the city has about $4500 in the bank and bills beyond $19,000.
City Councilman Charlie Young said the news raises questions for him.
“We want to know why. What happened? Why are we in this situation?”
Bottom line, Conner explained the city won’t have the funds to make payroll for the end of the month, which totals about $12,000 for the small city.
“ I love this city, and I do not want to see us go broke. It is our duty as elected officials to do what is best for our city,” said Conner.
An Earle business owner told us he was shocked to hear the city’s budget woes.
“Well, really I didn’t know the city was broke. It’s a surprise to me,” said Jerry Hoard.
“We are definitely going to discuss it more. We are going to have a budget meeting,” said Young.
On Monday, the city approved the pulling of $50,000 from savings to make ends meet in the meantime.
In 2011, the city of Earle removed the police chief position but is still struggling to pay officers hourly.