Court revokes town of Allport’s charter

LITTLE ROCK – A Pulaski County Circuit Court judge granted a motion for summary judgment to revoke the town of Allport’s charter.
“Today’s decision by the Pulaski County Circuit Court is the legally proper, but unfortunate, outcome after the town of Allport repeatedly failed to substantially comply with state law. Under state law, I am required to seek revocation of a town’s charter when the Arkansas Legislative Joint Auditing Committee notifies me of those repeated failures,” said Attorney General Tim Griffin.
The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee twice, within three years, notified Allport of its failure to comply with the state’s laws regarding how municipalities account for spending tax dollars. On September 24, 2020, the Committee notified the former Attorney General of these facts. Upon notification, “[t]he Attorney General shall file pleadings . . . to revoke the charter of the municipal corporation.”

Griffin’s predecessor failed to seek revocation of Allport’s charter, but instead sought an alternative remedy that was not allowed by statute. In February 2023, one month after taking office as Attorney General, Griffin filed a new lawsuit to revoke Allport’s charter, ultimately leading to the decision by the Pulaski County Circuit Court today.