County Judge

The County Judge serves as the Chief Executive Officer in the administration of County Government. The Judge authorizes and approves the disbursement of all appropriated County funds, operates the system of County roads, administers ordinances enacted by the Quorum Court, has custody of all County property, accepts grants from federal, state, public, and private sources on behalf of the County, hires County employees (except those persons employed by other elected officials of the County), and presides over the Quorum Court without a vote, but with the power of veto.

The County Judge also presides over the County Court. The County Court of each County has direct responsibility for all matters in the County relating to the following:

• County Taxes, including real and personal ad valorem taxes collected by County government. The County Court's authority in this area includes jurisdiction over the assessment of property, equalization of assessments on appeal, tax levies, tax collections, and the disbursement of tax proceeds.
• Paupers, including all County administrative actions affecting the conduct of human services programs serving indigent residents of the County where such services are financed in total or in part by County funds.
• Jurisdiction in cases that may be necessary to the internal improvement and local concerns of the respective counties including County financial activities and works of general public utility or advantage designed to promote intercommunication, trade, and commerce, transportation of persons and property, or the development of natural resources, which are not otherwise transferred to the County Judges to be administered in an executive capacity.
• The County Court shall have all other jurisdiction now vested by law in the County Court excepting with respect to those powers formerly vested in the County Court under the provisions of Section 28 of Article 7 of the Constitution which were transferred to the County Judge under the provisions of Section 3 of Amendment 55 to the Arkansas Constitution.
   

In addition to the duties of the County Court, the County Judge is responsible for supervising the activities of various state and federal agencies operating at the County level. The County Judge must apply for all federal and state moneys for which the County is eligible, and appoints the members to all administrative and advisory boards in the County.

The County Judge also issues special orders, such as Burn Bans when the weather is dry.

Steve Hotz, County Judge

Services Offered

• Administering the Quorum Court meetings, Ordinances, and Resolutions.
• Managing all current County facilities and plans for the future use and/or expansion of County facilities. 
• Serving other County departments and assisting them in providing their services to the general public.