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Friends,
Last week, the Little Rock Board of Directors adopted the City's 2024 operating budget. As a document that sets the framework for our revenue and expenses, the annual budget reflects our policy priorities for the coming year.
As always, public safety remains our highest priority. More than 60 percent of our budget is consistently set aside for public safety spending, and there's no exception in 2024. Next year, in particular, we're focusing on making our neighborhoods safer and stronger by ensuring code enforcement pay rates are competitive with surrounding cities.
We have heard this year about multiple health and safety concerns at certain rental properties, so we are focusing on making sure the Code Enforcement Division can effectively address those issues and continue its efforts to tackle property neglect and blight, which we know has a direct correlation to crime.
At the same time, we will ensure the Little Rock Police Department remains the highest-paid - and best - municipal police force in the region with across-the-board 5 percent raises for our men and women in law enforcement. We will continue to offer a $10,000 sign-on bonus to the new officers we bring on in 2024..
As we seek innovative solutions to eliminating homelessness, we will hire our first-ever Chief Homelessness Officer early next year. That individual will lead our efforts to get to "functional zero," which means homelessness in Little Rock will be brief and rare. We also added $500,000 to the budget to support operations at the Micro Home Village, a 206-bed community that will house unsheltered residents as they transition to permanent housing.
Another 2024 priority is to help make Little Rock the best city in the U.S. to live, work and visit, so we are enhancing our support of amenities that contribute to a rich and inviting quality of life and place. We are providing additional support to the newly re-imagined Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, which offers world-class arts and culture experiences free of charge to residents and visitors. We will also give more City funding to the Museum of Discovery, another Downtown anchor institution that's consistently ranked among the best U.S. children's museums and is a leader in STEAM education.
All told, our balanced budget reflects estimated revenues of about $333 million and expenses of about $330 million.
We are deeply appreciative of the City of Little Rock Finance Department staff, which put in countless hours over the past few months to create the budget, all without a Finance Director following the retirement of CFO Sara Lenahan earlier this year.
Below is a more detailed look at the 2024 budget Click on the graphic or click here to review the document. Please let me know if you have any questions!
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Free Estate Tools
This past Saturday, we focused on financial literacy and building generational wealth at "CapitalCon,'" an event that brought together hundreds of Little Rock residents for fun, interactive panel discussions, activations and entertainment all intended to help people level up their finances. The event was funded through a grant from the African American Mayors Association's Economic Mobility Leadership Institute (EMLI).
In continuing our focus on financial literacy and building financial wealth, EMLI is offering Little Rock residents free access for one year to online financial tools related to legacy financial matters like wills, trusts and estates.
Residents can sign up at MyLegacyItems.com for free, exclusive access to that platform and its wills, trusts and estate planning tools. The online platform guides users through the process of creating and updating wills and revocable trusts, establishing powers of attorney, crafting living wills, appointing executors and much more. The platform also contains an informational component that provides insights, quizzes and videos about estate planning and concepts for building a financial legacy and securing generational wealth.
To be eligible for a free year of access, Little Rock residents must register at MyLegacyItems.com by Dec. 31. Use the promo code "LITAR" upon registration. This promotional offer is only available until the end of the month.
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Hundreds of Little Rock residents attended CapitalCon on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Statehouse Convention Center. The event, funded by a grant from the African American Mayors Association, focused on financial literacy and wealth-building.
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Elopak Picks Little Rock
An international company that produces packaging for dairy products and other liquids made the announcement last week that it's opening its first U.S. production plant at the Port of Little Rock. Elopak will make a $70 million investment and bring more than 100 jobs to our City.
Elopak senior leaders recognized the Port as the best location to launch their U.S. manufacturing efforts because of its central location and logistical advantages at the intersection of highway, river, rail and air transport networks.
Ensuring the Port of Little Rock is an attractive and viable option for new industry is a priority for our administration. I often emphasize the importance of the Port to our economic development and strategic growth efforts. I was grateful to hear Hugh McDonald, Arkansas's Secretary of Commerce, praise Little Rock's commitment to its Port during a news conference announcing Elopak's plans.
Secretary McDonald said Little Rock has shown "a long-term commitment to building out this Port, passing sales taxes, (and) committing to economic development. ... This team has really thought about the future, planned for the future and executed to make it happen."
We know the future of our community requires us to focus on intentional efforts to recruit and retain jobs. I am proud of our partnerships with the Port, the Little Rock Chamber, AEDC and all the stakeholders who collaborate toward that goal.
I'm also proud of our newest corporate citizen, Elopak, because its values and commitment to sustainable practices align with ours. I'm glad to welcome this company and its investment to Little Rock.
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Updates
DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN: Don't forget to help shape the future of Downtown Little Rock by completing this online survey. The survey is a tool that will be used by crafters of our first-ever Downtown Master Plan as they move forward to identify priorities and develop the plan. The survey is open to everyone through the end of the month. Learn more about the master plan and the process at mp.downtownlr.com.
 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION: Residents have until Jan. 5 to apply for a position on the new Little Rock Public Safety Commission. The commission will serve alongside the City and the Little Rock Police Department to make recommendations and assist us as we continue to improve our violence reduction efforts.
Membership includes one representative from each Ward and six at-large members. Visit our website to apply. For additional information about vacancies on this and other city boards and commissions, click here.
TOPGOLF: Leading golf entertainment venue Topgolf opens its long-awaited Little Rock location on Friday, Dec. 22. I know Little Rock residents are as excited about this new attraction as I am. Meeting with Topgolf officials and encouraging them to locate in our City was one of our first objectives after being elected Mayor. There has been a huge demand for a Little Rock Topgolf, and I'm proud of the teamwork and commitment it took to get to this announcement. Topgolf will anchor an all-new mixed-use development near the intersection of Interstate 430 and Colonel Glenn Road.
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 4 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock Facebook and YouTube pages.
- The Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission holds its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at noon. The Parks Commission meets at The Centre at University Park.
- GloWild! continues at the Little Rock Zoo starting Thursday, Dec. 14 and running each night through Dec. 23 before a brief Christmas break. GloWild is the Zoo's annual light festival, with more than 40 lanterns lighting up the Zoo grounds this holiday season! GloWild is open to the public on select evenings through Jan. 7. Check the website for the full schedule and ticket details.
- The Little Rock Planning Commission meets Thursday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. at The Centre at University Park.
- The Little Rock Marathon's annual Ugly Sweater Race is Saturday, Dec. 16, at 9 a.m. at Two Rivers Park. Registration for this festive 5K is sold out, but spectators are encouraged to join participants in celebrating the season by wearing the ugliest sweater they can find!
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As always, stay up to date with what's happening in the City on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram via @citylittlerock. You can also email me at mayorscott@littlerock.gov or call my office at 501.371.4744.
I appreciate you!
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