Opinion No.

The Honorable H.G. Foster Prosecuting Attorney Faulkner County Courthouse P.O. Box 1105 Conway, AR 72032

Dear Mr. Foster:

This is in response to your request for an opinion on the following question:

Does the County Judge have the authority to obligate the County to the payment of funds prior to an appropriation ordinance being approved by the Quorum Court?

The answer to this question is, generally, "no." Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated § 14-20-106 states:

No county court or agent of any county shall make any contract on behalf of the county unless an appropriation has been previously made…