AAC F A M I L Y F R I E N D S » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » »
be reached in some counties where there is simply not enough funding to provide the vital services to its constituencies. We must inform and educate about the potential crisis beginning to cast a larger and larger shadow on our courthouses. Arkansas’ 75 counties are all a subdivision of the state and
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we conduct that business closest to the people. Our funding shouldn’t be allowed to greatly lag behind that of other state agen- cies. After all, we are mandated to do what we do. Te inflation we endure is the same that affects the state prison system, DHS and K-12 education. In fact our lockups currently house almost 10,000 prisoners, with more than 30 percent awaiting transfer to state prisons. County funds can generally be detailed in three ways: property and sales tax, state general turnback, and state and federal grants and programs. Other funding exists; however, these three components are the major sources of county revenue. Locally, quorum courts may levy up to 5 mills for property
taxes and many have done this just to keep up with inflation and increased demands on the county; however many are not levying this amount. County funding is dynamic and directly tied to the economy and of these three main funding sources, state general turnback deserves a serious conversation because the future of county government in Arkansas depends on it. Te state general turnback has only increased once in a long
Are we ready for budget crisis?
s your county faced with declining or stagnant revenue paired with increasing expenses and more and more du- ties? Chances are your answers are “Yes, yes and yes.” Unfortunately, at some juncture, a breaking point will
time and that was in 2007 with a $4 million increase thanks to Gov. Mike Beebe. (Act 1268 of 2007). Without this many more counties would have already faced the music and made tough decisions. Other state agen- cies’ budgets have grown substantially in the last 20 years. Expenses have increased, mandates have been piled on top and it is time to sit down and truly value what counties mean to the State of Arkansas. Counties are critical to the function of the state and our somewhat stagnant funding for more than two decades is about to manifest into real-world impacts on the coun- ties’ abilities to carry out the state’s business. I implore all county officials to engage your legislators, share our potential funding crisis, share all that you do for your people and share your thoughts on how to improve. Te AAC will be heavily involved in spreading the word right along with all of you.
President’s Perspective
Hon. Mike Jacobs AAC Board President; Johnson County Judge
Te Honorable Mike Jacobs Johnson County Judge / AAC Board President ARKANSAS STATE CAPITOLSNAPSHOTS
Cordell Scarborough, an eighth grader at Cabot Junior High South, poses with his mother, Tammie, on the steps leading up to the Senate Chamber in the Arkansas State Capitol this winter. Cordell spent a day learn- ing about AAC’s role and mission and how County Lines magazine is produced.
COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2014 9
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