Arkansas Code Title 14. Local Government § 14-48-102. Pre-existing laws, rights and authorities

(a) When a city effects a change of government under this chapter, it shall remain subject to and controlled by all laws, except those inconsistent with this chapter which on the effective date of the reorganization applied to or governed the city, including, without limiting the foregoing, the laws relating to improvement districts.

(b) The city, as reorganized, shall have all of the rights, powers, and authority which it had immediately prior to reorganization and shall also be entitled to exercise any right, power, or authority, except those inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, which are permitted cities organized under any other form of government.

(c) In cities having the commission form of government immediately preceding the adoption of the city administrator form of government, the board of directors elected under the authority of this chapter may organize or reorganize by ordinance duly adopted any municipal board, commission, authority, agency, or department under the general laws of the state for municipalities having the mayor-council form of government. However, no reorganization shall be lawful which impairs the validity of existing contracts.

(d) All bylaws, ordinances, and resolutions lawfully passed and in force in the city under its former organization and not in conflict with this chapter shall remain in force until altered or repealed by the board elected under the authority of this chapter.

(e) The territorial limits of the city shall remain the same as under its former organization. All rights and property of every description which were vested in it shall remain unimpaired by the reorganization provided for in this chapter.

(f) No existing right or liability either in favor of or against the city or any agency thereof, including, without limiting the foregoing, improvement districts and no suit or prosecution of any kind shall be affected by the change unless otherwise provided for in this chapter.

(g) No valid pledge or mortgage of the revenues or property of the city or of any agency or instrumentality thereof or of any municipal improvement district shall be impaired by the reorganization.