FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK >>>


together a legislative package of bills that are crafted to help our part of government function more efficiently. Tese bills are proposed in order to solve problems we encounter. Tey are, essentially, our playbook during a session. What you have each been doing in your member associations is putting together a playbook that all of us will work hard to implement in the 2011 session.


In the 2009 session, our playbook consisted of only 39 bills. Our 39 bills equated to under 2% of the total bills filled. And of those 39 bills, 33 were approved by both houses and signed into law by the Governor.


associations standing together as one, we carry influence. As Henry Ford once said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”


Your associations have worked hard to put together the of- “Te good news is that the


Te Association of Arkansas Counties team played admi- rably. We exhibited a spirit of teamwork that was respected in the dome. Many county elected officials crossed lines to support other county elected officials in the task of passing our bills. On a personal note, I remember well seeing Judges Sonny Cox and Jimmy Hart making phone calls and coming to committee meet- ings to support proposed legisla- tion from the Collectors. It takes this kind of team effort to get our legislation through.


legislature listens to county officials. When we mobilize to educate people in the Capitol, it is heard. When


we come together as a unified force, i.e. multiple associations standing together as one, we carry influence.”


fensive playbook. Our legislative committee will be putting the final touches on the package in November and we will at that point be ready to play ball. At AAC we are working on increas- ing our ability to communicate during the session. Trough our new website you will be able to review bills as they are filed, and information on your legislators and how to contact them will be right at your fingertips. It is about to be easier than ever before for you to get involved in the legislative process.


In January the ball will be placed on the tee, and kicked off. At AAC we hope to have a potent offense and quick scores, but much of the next three months we will be on defense. You have a choice…will you punt the ball to others or will you actively read the bills, phone your legisla- tors and come to the capitol to explain how your office really


Unfortunately there are negatives. In the end the AAC was


tracking over 500 bills that directly impacted us, including our own. Not all of these bills served us well. Tey included unfunded mandates and laws impossible for us to enforce. Each session finds some of these that get through, and despite our warnings of adverse impact we find ourselves subject to new laws that hurt county government.


When the other team has a playbook of 2300 plays, and


we only have 39, it is no surprise that we find ourselves in a defensive posture much of the time. Looking ahead to the 2011 session, most of our tenured county officials expect that we will again be playing defense to a large degree. Money at the state level is tight, and any hopes of increased funding to counties are tamped down quickly in this “cut taxes, cut spending” climate. We will need all football players lined up and ready to go when the session begins, because the services we provide are undoubt- edly essential to the people of Arkansas.


Te good news is that the legislature listens to county of-


ficials. When we mobilize to educate people in the Capitol, it is heard. When we come together as a unified force, i.e. multiple


8 COUNTY LINES, FALL 2010


works? It can be very rewarding to play a role in our legisla- tive process. You can help steer the future of our state by being involved.


And someday, when the 2011 session’s bills are implemented,


will you lament the fact that you have to do something in your office that makes no sense and squeezes your budget, or will your office run smoothly because your voice was heard in the 2011 session? Te county officials across Arkansas are indeed the ultimate team.


I hope to see you in January! Chris Villines – Chris Villines AAC Executive Director


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