AAC F A M I L Y & F R I E N D S
million of that amount deducted by the state to help pay salaries for deputy prosecutors. What’s my point? It’s very basic. County government is the political subdivision of the state of Arkansas, created to help the state conveniently administer justice for a state court system. Counties are the local government division given the vast majority of state mandates. And according to the latest census, the municipalities of Arkansas are required to serve 64.64 percent of the population while the 75 counties of Arkan- sas serve the very same constituency as the state of Arkansas — 100 percent of the population.
*** I heard a story that goes like this: A hobo comes up to the
front door of a neat looking farmhouse and raps gently on the door. When the farm owner answers, the hobo asks him, “Please, sir, could you give me something to eat? I haven’t had a good meal in several days.”
Te owner says, “I
have made a fortune in my lifetime by supplying goods for people. I’ve never given anything away for nothing. However, if you go around the back, you will see a
ounties of Arkansas are not complaining about what we were created to do. We serve willingly and with great pride. We simply need the state to help pay for the state ser- vices we provide the state “for the more convenient administration of justice” so that we can adequately provide for “county affairs.” We call upon the state to eschew their reponsibility no longer.
C
gallon of paint and a clean paint brush. If you will paint my porch, I will give you a good meal.” So the hobo goes around back, and a while later he again knocks on the door. Te owner says, “Finished already? Good. Come on in. Sit down. Te cook will bring your meal right in.” Te hobo says, “Tank you very much, sir. But there’s some- thing that I think you should know. It’s not a Porsche you got there. It’s a BMW.” Tere’s something I think the state should know. And I say
this respectfully — it’s not a “free lunch” you got there. It’s a debt. Article 16, § 2 of the Arkansas Constitution says that the General Assembly shall “provide for the payment of all just and legal debts of the state.” No doubt, the state court system costs
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are a debt of the state. Counties of Arkansas are not complaining about what we
were created to do. We serve willingly and with great pride. We simply need the state to help pay for the state services we provide the state “for the more convenient administration of justice” so that we can adequately provide for “county affairs” [§ 14-14-102]. We call upon the state to eschew their responsibil- ity no longer. It is incumbent upon the General Assembly to assure vital
services mandated by law are provided to all citizens through- out the state of Arkansas. It is the paramount duty of the state to provide for the fulfillment of basic governmental functions. Such was at the legal foundation of the Lake View v. Huckabee case. Terein the Supreme Court of Arkansas declared: “Te roles of the ex- ecutive and legislative branches are integral to assuring … the will of the people of our state as expressed in our constitution is fulfilled.” Should any segment of the citizenry be denied the basic tenants of government: law, order, safety and jus- tice? County Aid was created, not as a grant, but in recognition of a state responsibility
and the fact that most counties do not have sufficient revenues to provide both the vital state mandated services and other very important county functions. County government understands as well as any governmental unit that there is no public tooth fairy and that Father Christ- mas does not work in the treasury. However, it is in the best interest of the state of Arkansas for the General Assembly to provide additional general funding for counties to assure basic mandated services can be adequately and equitably provided to all Arkansans. Teodore Roosevelt said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. Te worst thing you can do is nothing.”
75 Counties - One Voice COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2016 21
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