WHERE YOUR TAX DOLLARS GO
A Look at the 2026 Garland County Adopted Budget
Garland County’s 2026 budget: $113.2 million
That sounds like a huge number—and it is. But it’s important to understand that not all
$113.2 million comes from property taxes. The county budget combines property taxes with sales taxes, fees, grants, dedicated revenues, special funds, and other sources.
So where does the money go?
THE BIG PICTURE
🛣️ ROADS & BRIDGES — $29.6 MILLION
Garland County has two major road-related funds totaling approximately $29.6 million:
County Road Fund: $13.55 million
Road & Bridge Improvement Fund: $16 million
Roads are one of the largest areas of county spending—and one of the areas residents notice every day.
My priority: Make sure our road and infrastructure dollars are spent where they make the biggest difference for residents, while planning ahead for growth.
🚔 PUBLIC SAFETY & THE JAIL — MORE THAN $27 MILLION
The county budgets approximately:
Sheriff’s Department, General Fund: $9.12 million
County Jail/Detention Facility: $13.21 million
Detention reserve: $282,000
Emergency 911: $2.62 million
Plus additional public-safety grants and special funds
Public safety is a core responsibility of county government. But public safety also means asking whether we are spending our money in the most effective way.
My priority: Support law enforcement while expanding alternatives for people experiencing mental-health and substance-use crises. Treatment and stabilization can be better—and sometimes less expensive—than cycling people through the jail.
♻️ SOLID WASTE & ENVIRONMENT — $13.45 MILLION
The Solid Waste Fund has a $13.45 million budget, including household waste services, environmental inspections, stormwater-related activities and capital expenditures.
These services directly affect our neighborhoods, waterways and quality of life.
My priority: Protect our lakes, improve stormwater management, and make sure environmental programs are actively serving the community.
📚 LIBRARY — $5.83 MILLION
The Garland County Library Fund has a budget of approximately $5.83 million, supporting personnel and library operations.
Libraries are more than books. They provide technology, education, community resources and services for residents of all ages.
🏛️ GENERAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT — $25.87 MILLION
The County General Fund supports a wide range of county functions, including:
Sheriff
Courts and prosecution
Health services
Elections
County Clerk, Treasurer, Collector and Assessor
Emergency Management
Veterans Services
Information technology
General administration
The General Fund also includes approximately $3.75 million in transfers to other county funds.
My priority: Transparency. Residents deserve to know what they are paying for, why they are paying for it, and whether programs are producing results.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT FUNDS
The 2026 budget also includes:
$4.83 million — General Reserve Capital Improvement Fund
$5.0 million — Employee Insurance Fund
$3.5 million — Ouachita Memorial Hospital Sale Fund special projects
$2.62 million — Emergency 911
$1.54 million — Safe Room Grant
$1.45 million — Grant-in-Aid
$944,000 — Assessor Reappraisal Fund
$907,000 — Sheriff's Commissary Fund
$552,000 — American Rescue Plan Fund
$535,000 — Southwest Trail Grant
$129,000 — Animal Control Fund
WHAT I TAKE FROM THE NUMBERS
The budget tells us something important:
Garland County has significant resources—but those resources have to be managed carefully.
We need to invest in the basics residents depend on:
Roads. Infrastructure. Public safety. Emergency services. Clean water. Healthy neighborhoods. Housing. Transportation. And services for seniors, families and vulnerable residents.
At the same time, we need to ask hard questions about priorities, reserves, contracts, capital projects and whether programs are actually delivering results.
As your Justice of the Peace, I will support responsible budgeting, transparency and accountability.
YOUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD WORK FOR YOU.
Rona Bellinger Candidate for Justice of the Peace • District 5
Source: Garland County 2026 Annual Budget and adopted Budget Ordinance O-25-25. Budget figures represent appropriated amounts across county funds and should not be interpreted as property-tax expenditures alone.
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