Title 14 — Local Government

(a) Any municipality of this state having a population of two thousand five hundred (2,500) or more inhabitants, according to the most recent federal census, or any city of the first class may call and hold an election on the question of becoming organized under, and governed by,…

(a) When a city effects a change of government under this chapter, it shall remain subject to and controlled by all laws, except those inconsistent with this chapter which on the effective date of the reorganization applied to or governed the city, including, without limiting the…

The form of municipal government authorized by this chapter shall be known as the city administrator form of municipal government.

(a) When petitions are filed with the county clerk containing the signatures of qualified electors of a municipality equal in number to fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate number of votes cast at the preceding general municipal election for all candidates for mayor in cases in…

(a) When the question of the adoption of the city administrator form of government is submitted to, and approved by, a majority of the qualified electors of a municipality voting on the issue, the question of changing to another form of government shall not again be submitted to …

(a) (1) When, in connection with the reorganization of a municipality under this chapter, an initial board of directors shall be elected, the reorganization shall be deemed to be effective as of the time when the respective terms of office of the directors commence.(2) Concurrent…

(a) (1) Following the adoption of the city administrator form of government in any city and prior to the special municipal election for the initial membership of the board of directors and the mayor, the governing body of the city, by ordinance, shall divide the city into four (4…

(a) (1) Within ten (10) days after the designation of the four (4) wards, the Secretary of State by proclamation in accordance with § 7-11-101 et seq. shall call special primary and general elections to be held in the municipality for the purpose of electing seven (7) directors a…

(a) Candidates for the office of director and mayor shall be nominated and elected as follows:(1) (A) (i) A special election for the election of the initial membership of the board of directors and mayor shall be called by the Secretary of State as provided in § 14-48-108.(ii) Th…

(a) (1) The seven (7) directors elected by a city reorganized under this chapter shall be known and designated as the board of directors of the city.(2) The board of directors of the city shall constitute the legislative and executive body of the city, subject to the powers of th…

(a) (1) The mayor of a city having the city administrator form of government shall be recognized as the head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for the purposes of military law.(2) He or she shall sign on behalf of the city all written agreemen…

(a) (1) The board of directors shall elect from its membership an assistant mayor or vice mayor who shall serve in that capacity for two (2) years or until his or her tenure of office as a director expires, whichever is shorter.(2) The assistant mayor or vice mayor shall not be p…

If both the mayor and assistant mayor should be absent or disabled from performing their duties, the board of directors may designate by resolution one (1) of its members as acting mayor to serve during the absence or disability, and no longer.

(a) Any person holding the office of mayor and any person holding the office of member of the board of directors of any city organized under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to removal from the office by the electors qualified to vote for a successor of the incumbe…

In the case of a vacancy in the office of mayor or in the office of a member of the board of directors, the board, at the first regular meeting after the occurrence of the vacancy, shall fill the vacancy under § 14-42-103.

(a) The initial board of directors shall employ a city administrator as promptly as possible after effecting the board's organization. A city administrator's employment shall be for an indefinite term. Thereafter, subject only to such interruptions as are unavoidable, a city admi…

(1) The city administrator shall have the following powers and duties:(1) To the extent that such authority is vested in him or her through ordinance enacted by the board of directors, he or she may supervise and control all administrative departments, agencies, offices, and empl…

(a) (1) If the city administrator is absent from the city or is unable to perform his or her duties, if the board of directors suspends the city administrator, or if there is a vacancy in the office of the city administrator, the board may appoint by resolution an acting city adm…

A.C.A. § 14-48-119Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) (1) A majority of the elected membership of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.(2) Except where otherwise provided by law, an affirmative vote of four (4) or more members shall represent the action of the board, and a like vote sh…

(a) The initiative and referendum laws of this state are applicable to cities reorganized under this chapter. (b) The number of signatures required upon any petition shall be computed upon the total vote cast for mayor at the preceding general election for mayor.

(a) The approval of the budget by the board of directors shall amount to an appropriation, for the purposes of the budget, of the funds which are lawfully applicable to the different items therein contained. (b) The board may alter or revise the budget from time to time, and unpl…

The board of directors shall have the financial affairs of the city audited annually by the Division of Legislative Audit of the State of Arkansas or by an independent certified public accountant who is not otherwise in the service of the city.

(a) (1) The board of directors may from time to time by ordinance create, reorganize, or abolish, except as provided in § 14-48-106, any municipal departments, offices, employments, boards, authorities, commissions, and agencies and fix the term of employment and compensation of …

Subject to the exceptions contained in § 14-48-102, every person appointed by the board of directors to any municipal office, employment, position, or to membership on any board, authority, or commission shall serve for such time and shall receive such compensation as the board m…

(a) In the exercise by the board of directors of its authority in respect to the filling of vacancies on municipal boards, authorities, and commissions, only those qualified electors of the city found by the board to possess the necessary qualifications shall be appointed or conf…

All officers and employees of a city reorganized under this chapter, excepting the city administrator whose bond requirement is controlled by § 14-48-116, may be required to make bond in such amount, in such form, and with such security as may meet the approval of the board of di…

(a) (1) No member of the board of directors nor any officer or employee appointed in any city shall have an interest in any contract or job for work or materials, or the profits thereof, or service to be furnished or performed for the city.(2) No officer or employee shall have an…

(a) Before making any purchase of, or contract for, any supplies, materials, or equipment, and before obligating the city under any contract for the performance of services or for the construction of municipal improvements where the anticipated cost to the city of the transaction…

Every ordinance or resolution granting any public utility franchise or granting the right to occupy the streets, highways, bridges, or other public places in the city for any purpose shall be completed in the form in which it is finally passed. It shall remain on file with the ci…

(a) (1) The board of directors elected under the provisions of this chapter shall constitute the respective boards of improvement for any and all improvement districts existing or created in any city operating under the provisions of this chapter and shall discharge and perform a…