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AAC F A M I L Y & F R I E N D S


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Counties working in unison to address chain of challenges


is comprised of representatives from each of our mem- ber associations — judges, collectors, circuit and county clerks, treasurers, sheriffs, assessors, justices of the peace and coroners. Collectively, these offices deliver necessary and critical


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services to their counties. As a board, they serve all the counties in the state of Arkansas, and I think they do a wonderful job. I’ve said it before and will say it again, “I’m absolutely honored to serve the counties of Arkansas as their AAC board president.” I’ve witnessed the board work through complex and dynamic issues facing our state and counties and look for- ward to what we will accomplish together in 2016. We will certainly have a fiscal session this April, and it ap- pears we will see a couple of special sessions aimed at address- ing major issues for our state. We could liken these challenges to a chain because every link depends on the other. It has become evident that Arkansas Works (Medicaid expansion and the private option) will have to be settled before the state can really work on the numerous other links or pressing issues. In our estimation, highway and road funding is the second link in this current chain of challenges. And the state is not the only entity with substantial bumps on this road. Counties have significant needs in maintaining their network of rural roads and bridges. We will continue to educate about the importance of these critical paths for our school traffic, farm-to-market infrastructure and rural residents. Did you know that according to a recent study there are 1,196 obsolete or structurally deficient county bridges in Arkansas? I would also include the criminal justice system and jail and prison overcrowding as a third link, if you will, on our chain of challenges. Te Council of State Governments Justice Center recently reported that Arkansas has the fast-


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COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2016


he Association of Arkansas Counties board of directors is a diverse group when it comes to their varied roles in their respective constituen- cies. As many of you know, the AAC board


President’s Perspective


est growing prison population in the country. We also own one of the highest recidivism rates in the nation at 48 percent. In the last several months, counties have ex- perienced some immediate relief from the county jail backup, and we are thankful for the governor and the state for understand- ing the crisis in our local jails. However, the solutions to our state’s prison and jail overcrowd- ing cannot come to fruition until our prison growth and recidivism rate issues are fully understood. Counties will be working with the Council of State Governments Justice Center to dig deeper into the county factor before the center presents its next report in March. By the way, it is no coincidence that Gov. Asa Hutchin- son established task forces or working groups on all three of these challenges in the last session. Te administration knew that these three main links were keys to Arkansas’ fu- ture. We will continue to partner with the administration and leadership on these challenges as well as others. Tank you to all the county officials across the state who serve so diligently and selflessly for the betterment of county government and all Arkansans.


Judy Beth Hutcherson AAC Board President; Clark County Treasurer


Judy Beth Hutcherson Clark County Treasurer / AAC Board President


Judy Beth Hutcherson


Did an aspect of county government “make news” recently in your county? Did any


of your county officials or staff get an award, appointment or pat on the back? Please let us know about it for the next edition of County Lines magazine. You can write up a couple of paragraphs about it, or if something ran in your local paper, call and ask them to forward the story to us. We encourage you or your newspaper to attach a good quality photo, too: e-mail csmith@arcounties.org.


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