Follow The Money
Tracking how your tax dollars are spent by Independence County and City of Batesville officials. All data sourced from FOIA responses and public records.
2025 City Spending: $59.7 Million Across All Funds
The City of Batesville paid $59,678,026.67 to 700 vendors in 2025, up 73.8% from $34,332,408.89 in 2024. The FY2025 adopted operating budget authorized $42,108,296 in expenses. City Attorney Tim Meitzen has clarified that the difference is largely attributable to bond-funded capital projects (water treatment plant, park/event center) that are financed separately through voter-approved bonds and dedicated sales tax revenue. The city estimates the actual general budget overage at approximately $1.5 million.
Independence Watch has filed FOIA requests for the bond authorization documents to provide a complete fund-level accounting of 2025 expenditures.
Where the Money Went: Top Vendors (2024 vs 2025)
| Vendor | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOLM Group, Inc. | $2,242,143 | $22,765,086 | +915% |
| Clark Contractors, LLC | $0 | $5,863,273 | NEW |
| Olsson (Engineering) | $2,226,732 | $1,738,034 | -22% |
| AR Municipal Equipment | $2,068 | $1,579,066 | +76,267% |
| Entergy | $1,322,970 | $1,548,147 | +17% |
| Bad Boy Mowers | $1,224,175 | $15,414 | -99% |
| Waste Connections | $591,898 | $644,475 | +9% |
| ACS Playground Adventures | $0 | $505,830 | NEW |
| American Ramp Company | $0 | $500,000 | NEW |
| La Croix Precision Optics | $0 | $356,631 | NEW |
| TOTAL (All Vendors) | $34,332,409 | $59,678,027 | +73.8% |
Source: City of Batesville Vendor History Reports obtained via FOIA: 2024 Report (702 vendors, $34,332,408.89) and 2025 Report (700 vendors, $59,678,026.67). Full analysis: City of Batesville Spent $59.7 Million in 2025.
Daniel Haney: County Attorney with Multiple Conflicts
City vendor records show Daniel Haney received a single payment of $77,000 in October 2024, during the height of the paper ballot petition effort. His total 2024 payments from the city were $111,596. The county attorney retainer amount remains undisclosed despite FOIA requests.
Haney serves as civil attorney for both Independence County AND Cleburne County. He advised Independence County to repeal the paper ballot ordinance based on the Evans v. Harrison ruling, which originated in Cleburne County, his other client. He is being paid by both sides of the legal framework he used to justify the repeal.
Haney represented VFW Post 4501 in settlement negotiations against the City of Batesville (Case No. 32CV-24-171) while simultaneously serving as county attorney. The city deposited $610,372.50 with the Circuit Clerk in 2024, then paid an additional $268,750 directly to VFW Post #4501 in July 2025 as final settlement. Combined total from vendor records: $879,122.50. The City Council approved the settlement “behind closed doors” according to City Attorney Timothy Meitzen.
FOIA documents reveal that the Arkansas Association of Counties (AAC) provided Haney with template rejection letters for paper ballot petitions before local review was complete. Haney then forwarded these templates to County Clerk Tracey Mitchell. This shows the rejection of petitions was pre-coordinated at the state level, not based on independent local review.
OEM Director’s Side Business: $12,279 in County Purchases
Added February 19, 2026 | FOIA #46 Response
County Payments to Emergency Service Products (Johnson’s business):
- 2022: $1,223.40 (small equipment, hazmat supplies)
- 2023: $2,028.00 (small equipment, hazmat supplies, janitorial)
- 2024: $9,027.88 (hazmat supplies, small equipment, including $8,790 single purchase)
- Total: $12,279.28
Ordinance 2025-17, requested by Judge Kevin Jeffery and passed July 14, 2025, authorized these transactions under ACA 14-14-1202, but was made retroactive to January 1, 2024. Purchases in 2022 ($1,223) and 2023 ($2,028) remain outside even the retroactive coverage period. No committee review occurred before the vote. No disclosure affidavit has been produced.
A $9,155 machinery purchase was also made and voided on the same day (December 21, 2022). Reason unknown.
Source: Ordinance 2025-17 (filed July 15, 2025). Vendor Breakdown Reports for Emergency Service Products, 2022-2024. FOIA #46 response from County Clerk Tracey Mitchell, Feb. 19, 2026. Documents: Document Library
Paper Ballot Repeal: The Numbers
The Quorum Court cited an unverified $140,000 cost estimate to justify repealing the ordinance that 61.6% of voters approved. The repeal came just 3 months before the March 3, 2026 primary election.
Source: City of Batesville vendor history reports, budget documents, and FOIA responses. All data is public record. City spending figures verified against official Vendor History Reports: 2024 (702 vendors, $34,332,408.89) and 2025 (700 vendors, $59,678,026.67). Budget context provided by City Attorney Tim Meitzen, Feb 25, 2026. Last updated: February 25, 2026.