Who Runs the City of Texarkana, Arkansas?
A plain-language guide to Texarkana, Arkansas city government — the Board of Directors, the City Manager, who holds power and how to take part.
Who Runs the City of
Texarkana, Arkansas?
A plain-language guide to Texarkana, Arkansas city government — who holds power, what each office actually does, and how you can take part.
The city at a glance
What the city government does
The City of Texarkana, Arkansas provides the everyday services residents use inside the city limits, including:
- Police protection and the district court.
- Fire protection and emergency response.
- Water, sewer and sanitation (trash) service.
- City streets, drainage and public works.
- Parks and recreation.
- Planning, zoning, building permits and code enforcement.
- Animal care and adoption.
The city handles services inside the city limits. Miller County handles countywide functions — the county courts, jail, property records, tax collection and elections. See TXK Today’s Who Runs Miller County guide. On the Texas side, the City of Texarkana, Texas is a separate government — see Who Runs the City of Texarkana, Texas.
Two roles: the Board and the City Manager
Texarkana, Arkansas runs under the City Manager form of government, adopted under the Arkansas City Manager Enabling Act of 1989. It splits the work in two:
- The elected Board of Directors sets policy — it passes ordinances, adopts the city budget and sets the direction for the city.
- A professional City Manager, hired by the board, runs the city day to day — overseeing departments, staff and the budget.
Who’s in charge of what?
The Board of Directors makes the rules and sets the direction. The City Manager carries them out and runs operations. Directors set policy as a body; they do not manage individual departments themselves.
The Mayor and Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is the city’s governing body. Six directors are each elected by the voters of their own ward to four-year terms. City elections are nonpartisan — candidates run without a party label — and the candidate with the most votes wins.
The Mayor is elected citywide by all city voters to a four-year term. The mayor presides over board meetings, serves as the city’s spokesperson, and votes as a member of the board. The board separately names an Assistant Mayor from among the six ward directors — a role that rotates among the wards and is held for a one-year term. The current mayor is Allen L. Brown, and the current assistant mayor is Ulysses Brewer (Ward 4).
The current board (as of June 2026)
- Ward 1 — Terry Roberts
- Ward 2 — Laney Harris
- Ward 3 — Steven Hollibush
- Ward 4 — Ulysses Brewer (Assistant Mayor)
- Ward 5 — Danny Jewell
- Ward 6 — Steve Smith
City offices are nonpartisan and directors serve staggered four-year terms, so officeholders can change. The board selects the mayor and assistant mayor from among its members.
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The City Manager
The City Manager is hired by the Board of Directors and serves as the city’s chief executive. The manager runs the day-to-day government — directing all city departments, hiring and supervising staff, and preparing the annual budget for the board to consider. The manager advises the board but is not an elected official and does not vote. The current city manager is Tyler Richards.
City departments and services
The city manager oversees the departments that deliver day-to-day services. Here’s what the main ones do for you.
| Department | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| Police | City law enforcement, patrol and investigations. |
| Fire | Fire protection and emergency response. |
| Public Works | City streets, drainage, refuse, code enforcement and stormwater. |
| Texarkana Water Utilities | Water and sewer service (a joint utility serving both Texarkanas). |
| Community Development | Planning, zoning and land use. |
| Animal Care & Adoption Center | Animal control and the city shelter. |
| District Court | City ordinance violations and misdemeanor matters, such as traffic tickets. |
How the city is funded
The city runs mainly on sales taxes, property (ad valorem) taxes, franchise fees, and revenue from city utilities. Each year the Board of Directors adopts the budget that funds city services — the clearest point for residents to weigh in on how their money is spent. The city manager prepares the proposed budget for the board to consider.
How to take part
- Attend a Board of Directors meeting. The board meets at City Hall, 216 Walnut St. Meetings are open to the public; confirm the current day and time and read upcoming agendas through the city’s online portal.
- Vote. City elections are nonpartisan and held in November; voters elect the mayor citywide and a director for their own ward, each to a four-year term. See TXK Today’s Miller County voting guide for how and when to vote.
- Look it up. Find departments, officials, agendas and services at texarkanaar.gov.
Key contacts & resources
Texarkana, AR 71854
TXK Today’s guides are a free community resource for the Texarkana region. Officeholders, meeting times and city services can change, and city director seats are elected in November. Always confirm current officials and details with the City of Texarkana, Arkansas before you rely on them. This guide is nonpartisan and is not legal advice.
Sources: City of Texarkana, Arkansas (texarkanaar.gov) and its Board of Directors, the Arkansas City Manager Enabling Act of 1989 (Ark. Code §§ 14-61-101 et seq.), the Arkansas Municipal League, and the U.S. Census Bureau.