Howard County Quorum Court

The Howard County Quorum Court held its regular April meeting on Monday.  Howard Memorial Hospital Chief Financial Officer Bill Craig presented j.p.’s with a quarterly update on the hospital.  Craig mentioned the week-long winter storm in February and the significant loss of revenue for the hospital it caused. While elective surgical procedures had to be rescheduled, Craig said the hospital is still seeing the emergency department services struggle. It will likely take some time for the situation to rebound however it was noted that the general financial situation for the hospital looked much better in March.

Other than hearing the hospital report, j.p. ‘s were told the cares act money received late last year has been transferred into the salary budgets for the Office of Emergency Services, sheriff’s department & jail.  Every county & city in Arkansas received money from the federal government to help offset any expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Howard County’s portion of those funds was approximately 585 thousand dollars. 

J.p.’s approved an ordinance that returns nearly 13 hundred dollars into the county road department budget.  The unanticipated revenue was received due to lightning damage.