On This Veterans Day, Let’s Commit to Those Who Protected Us
Nearly 200,000 veterans live in Arkansas. Of those here now, more than 5,000 served in the 1940s, and about the same number served in the Korean War. And Arkansans have […]
The Governor’s Proposed Biennial Budget Includes Important Investments, but Further Needs Exist
And further income tax cuts will not address affordability challenges. Today Governor Sanders presented her balanced budget for the 2027-2029 Biennium to the legislative Joint Budget Committee. While the budget […]
Reflections on the Latest Poverty Data
Percent of Arkansas Children Living in Poverty Decreases, But These Gains Are Threatened On September 15, known among anti-poverty advocates and policy researchers as “Poverty Day,” the U.S. Census Bureau […]
Our Taxes Make A Difference
One of the most comprehensive reports on state and local finances is produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. State and Local Revenue in FY 2024 (the most recent report) allows […]
Let’s Use the State Budget Surplus to Invest in Arkansans
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration recently announced a final general revenue budget surplus for Fiscal Year 2026 — the state government year that ended on June 30 — […]
Budget And Income Tax Cuts Are Not In The Interest Of Arkansans
On June 19, Governor Sanders sent a letter to state government cabinet secretaries and department directors “outlining budget expectations” for the 2028-2030 biennial budget. In the letter, the Governor directs […]
2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Economic Well-Being
Arkansas has made modest progress in the economic well-being of children but needs remain In the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which is based on the most recent 2024 data, […]
KIDS COUNT Data Book Now Includes Scores as Well as Traditional Rankings
For more than 35 years, the KIDS COUNT Data Book has ranked states on child well-being overall and in four domains: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. In […]
Reflections on Tax Day: Our Taxes are an Investment in Families and Democracy
It may be difficult to find many of our family members, colleagues, and neighbors who get excited about April 15. Very few of us enjoy the process of filing out […]
The Governor’s FY27 Budget Request: Four Key Takeaways
The Arkansas General Assembly 2026 Fiscal Session commences on April 8. In preparation for the session, Department of Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson presented the Governor’s proposed fiscal year […]