EFFICIENCY PROJECT TIP LINE
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Featured ArticlesNewsmaker Interview: Mike Carroll, C.P.A.(September 2019) Fort Smith accountant Mike Carroll has played an important role in Gov. Asa Hutchinson's plan to reorganize Arkansas state government. Mr. Carroll chaired the Transformation Advisory Board, a 15-member citizens panel that made policy recommendations to the Hutchinson administration.
All-Time Record Low Unemployment Rate(August 2019) Arkansas' unemployment rate hit consecutive all-time record lows this Summer, declining to 3.5% in June and 3.4% in July, preliminary jobs data from the state Department of Workforce Services (ADWS) shows.
How To Spot A Recession(August 2019) A near-daily barrage of media reports and political speculations claim the U.S. economy has either entered a recession or faces one in the near future. Recent events are reminiscent of 1992 when Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and others claimed economic conditions were contracting, though it was later revealed that the U.S. economy had expanded since March 1991.
Longest Economic Expansion In U.S. History(July 2019) The U.S. economy entered record territory this month as the economic expansion that began in June 2009 entered its 11th year, eclipsing the previous 10-year record (1991-2001) in the business cycle chronology compiled by economists at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER).
School Choice Program Expands(July 2019) Two measures enacted this year by Arkansas policymakers take effect this month and expand school choice options for K-12 students.
State Policymakers Approve County Budget Transparency(June 2019) All 75 Arkansas counties will be required to post their annual budgets online starting in 2020, according to a measure approved unanimously by state legislators and signed into law by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
Arkansas Taxpayers & Capital Gains(June 2019) Arkansas policymakers have reduced the state capital gains tax. Opponents claim the reduction only benefits a small group but public records show nearly one in eight Arkansas taxpayers pay annual capital gains taxes.
Tax Cuts Emerge as Public Policy(May 2019) The 92nd General Assembly of Arkansas will be remembered for advancing tax cuts as public policy, a unique development in a state better known for government attempts to generate economic activity.
Theory of Constraints(May 2019) The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a management strategy that uses a focusing process to create efficient outcomes. TOC is one of several strategies that managers and employees can use to make state government more efficient. One scholar has described TOC as "understanding how to exploit constraints rather than surrendering to them ..."
The Transformation and Efficiencies Act of 2019(April 2019) A massive 2,047-page bill approved by the state General Assembly and signed into law this month by Gov. Asa Hutchinson is the foundation for the biggest Arkansas state government reorganization in nearly 50 years.
Half of Private School Market Outside Pulaski(April 2019) K-12 students enrolled at Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association-affiliated schools outside of Pulaski County compose 51.7% (9,812) of total ANSAA enrollment in 2018-19. Enrollment at ANSAA-affiliated schools is 18,987.These schools serve students in 22 of Arkansas' 75 counties.
One-Third of Efficiency Project Recommendations Adopted(March 2019) The Policy Foundation's Efficiency Project made 60 policy recommendations in Fall 2016. Twenty-one had been adopted as of early 2019.
Middle Class Value: Private School Tuition & The Arkansas Foundation Grant(March 2019) Critics argue school choice benefits only the wealthy but records show most Arkansas private schools serve the middle-class, charging annual tuition rates less than the $6,781 state K-12 student foundation grant.
Tomorrow's Fiscal Reforms(February 2019) Arkansas has made fiscal progress in the post-Clinton era. But policies that place it at a competitive disadvantage with other states must be answered with tomorrow's fiscal reforms if the goal is a stronger economy.
First in a series on how to advance Arkansas' fiscal progress.Arkansas State Government Reorganization(January 2019) Gov. Asa Hutchinson proposes reorganizing state government from 42 to 15 agencies, the most sweeping consolidation since 1971.
The Two-Four-Five Point Nine Plan(January 30, 2019) A fiscal proposal by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and state legislators is being described as the "two-four-five point nine" (2-4-5.9) plan because of the lower income tax rates it would levy on Arkansas taxpayers.
Job Creation States(January 2019) Only 17 states have job creation rates greater than the U.S. average in the current economic expansion that is in its ninth year.
Job Creation Lags States In Region(January 2019) Various factors such as a skilled work force, infrastructure and tax rates influence economic development. The current economic expansion started in mid-2009. How does Arkansas' performance fare versus the region?
People Have To Eat(January 1, 2019) The state grocery tax--6.0% as recently as mid-2007--is being reduced to 0.125% as Arkansas joins 36 states with similar policies. A small group of Arkansans have advanced repeal for at least a quarter-century.
Little Rock Charter Enrollment, Zip Codes & Median Household Income(January 2019) Sixty-five percent (65%) of the nearly 4,800 K-12 students enrolled in Little Rock open-enrollment public charters in 2018-19 attend schools in zip codes with median household incomes less than $62,258, Arkansas Department of Education and U.S. Census Bureau data show. Three percent (3%) of students attend a charter in one of Little Rock's three most affluent zip codes. By contrast, 31 percent (31%) of students attend charters in Little Rock's three poorest zip codes, ADE and Census data show.
School Choice Market Tops 83,000 Students(December 2018) The Arkansas school choice market continues its explosive growth rate, expanding from an estimated 66,627 K-12 students (2013) to more than 83,000 (2018). This niche market includes those eligible for public school choice programs; and homeschooled, private and charter students.
Pulaski County School Choice Market Larger Than 3 Of 4 Public K-12 Districts(December 2018) More K-12 students are participating in the Pulaski County school choice market in the current school year (2018-19) than total enrollment in three of four local public school districts, Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) records and other data show.
Fiscal Policy Forum Engages Citizens(November 2018) On Nov. 27 the Policy Foundation hosted a Fiscal Policy Forum at Heifer Village in Little Rock to provide Arkansas citizens with information on ideas likely to emerge in 2019. A diverse group of students, senior citizens, researchers and policymakers participated in three panels that examined road funding, the state income tax, the grocery tax and the EITC. There was no charge to attend and attendees asked several dozen questions.
Policy Foundation Dinner With The Center For The Study Of Liberty(November 2018) The Policy Foundation is joining with the Indiana-based Center for the Study of Liberty (CSL) to host a Nov. 15 dinner on the conversational topic "Poverty and Education."
Policy Foundation To Host Nov. 27 Fiscal Policy Forum(October 2018) The Policy Foundation will host a fiscal policy forum Nov. 27 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) at Heifer Village in Little Rock to examine ideas expected to be considered in the 92nd General Assembly (2019) of the state legislature.
Utah Leads U.S. In Jobs Creation Arkansas Trails U.S. Average(September 2018) Utah leads the United States in jobs creation since the end of the Great Recession in mid-2009, expanding payroll employment at a 28.4% rate versus the 14% national average, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics records show. Arkansas trailed the U.S. in the period, creating new jobs at a 7.5% rate.
Legislative Task Force Recommends Income Tax Cuts(August 2018) A state legislative task force has recommended reducing the highest Arkansas income tax rate, a policy advanced by the Policy Foundation since its founding as a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank in 1995.
OpenTheBooks.Com: Legislator Charged With Failing To Pay Income Taxes Or File Returns Received $118,988 In Salary Over Three Years(July 2018) State Rep. Michael "Mickey" Gates, R-Hot Springs, charged recently with failing to pay state income taxes or file returns was paid $78,800 in legislative salary (2016-17), and is receiving $40,188 this year, according to OpenTheBooks.com, a non-profit that advances government transparency.
Performance-Based Pay Plan Advances(June 2018) Two reports published 18 years apart set the stage for the performance-based pay plan advanced in the past year by policymakers.
OpenTheBooks.Com: Little Rock District Paid 102 Administrators More Than State Leaders(June 2018) It pays to be a Little Rock School District employee more than a top state official. The Little Rock School District, the subject of a 2015 state takeover paid 102 officials more than $89,301, the new annual salary of the Arkansas' Auditor of State, Secretary of State and Treasurer.
Agencies Adopt Strategic Plans(May 2018) Sixteen state agencies reviewed by the Efficiency Project in 2016 have adopted Recommendation No. 3, which called on agencies to develop strategic plans and post them online in a format "accessible to citizens."
OpenTheBooks.Com: Failing District Spent $8.3 Million On Salaries In 2016(May 2018) The Dollarway School District, taken over by the state in 2015, spent $8,309,639 on employee salaries in 2016, according to public records compiled by OpenTheBooks.com, a non-profit that advances government transparency as a policy goal.
Agencies Amend Mission Statements(May 2018) Eleven Arkansas state agencies have amended their mission or core value statements to advance the idea of efficiency in their operations, according to public records. The Efficiency Project, a Policy Foundation project made the recommendation in a 2016 report.
DFA Reduces Outstanding Receivables(May 2018) The state Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) continues to reduce tax debts owed Arkansas, recovering $132.3 million in outstanding receivables in calendar year 2017. This is $21 million greater than the amount ($111.3 million) collected by DFA in calendar year 2016.
County Budget Transparency(April 2018) Only eight Arkansas counties post annual budgets online for citizens while others publish an annual appropriation notice in the paper of record, a legal requirement. Every county should post its budget in an easily-accessible format. This lack of transparency can be illustrated by comparing Arkansas counties with those with similar names in other states.
Modified Distribution(April 2018) A new Arkansas Department of Education School Index report assigns twice as many 'A' grades to traditional high schools as failing ('F') marks. ADE also reported more than three times as many 'A' grades to traditional elementary schools as failing marks. A standard distribution would report a similar number of 'A' and 'F' schools.
Federal Tax Cut Provision Advances Arkansas School Choice(March 2018) A provision of the recently-enacted Republican federal tax cut, meant to increase competition in the delivery of education services was approved by the state legislature in mid-March and became law on March 20.
529s & Middle-class Arkansas Households(March 2018) Critics argue only the rich benefit from school choice but records show more than 30 Arkansas private schools charge tuition less than the top individual benefit ($5,000) of 529 savings plans. Another six schools enroll younger students at similar rates. About 7,500 students attend these schools.
The Policy Foundation And School Choice(March 2018) The Policy Foundation was established in 1995 as a nonpartisan, 501(c)(c) non-profit think tank. For nearly a quarter-century the Foundation has advanced market-based ideas to the people of Arkansas. The Foundation advances these ideas in various ways, including public forums, news media reports, special projects, and research posted on its website. One idea is school choice, which the Policy Foundation has advanced as a process to increase competition within Arkansas' current model of education.
OpenTheBooks: Salaries Total $38.9 Million In Six 'Low-Performing' East Arkansas Districts(February 2018) Arkansas taxpayers spent $38.9 million on employee salaries in six low-performing east Arkansas K-12 public school districts, while policymakers fought expanded school choice for nearly 80,000 students not attending traditional public schools, according to OpenTheBooks.com and public records.
Gov. Hutchinson Proposes Income Tax Cut(February 12, 2018) Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson proposed using efficiencies and savings from the transformation of state government to reduce the top state individual income tax rate from 6.9 to 6.0 percent in 2019.
Arkansas Has Second Highest Corporate Income Tax Rate In Region(February 2018) Arkansas is among states with the second highest top corporate income tax rate in the 12-state southeast region, according to 2017 data from the Federation of State Tax Administrators.
Arkansas School Choice Market(January 2018) Records show the Arkansas school choice market continues to grow at a high rate, expanding from an estimated 66,627 K-12 students (2013) to 79,325 (2017). This niche educational market includes students eligible to participate in public school choice programs, capped at three percent (3%) of enrollment; and homeschooled, private and charter students.
Pulaski County School Choice Market(January 2018) Records show the school choice market in Pulaski County totaled nearly 19,000 K-12 students in 2017.
Every Dime. Online. In Real Time(December 2017) OpenTheBooks CEO Adam Andrzejewski speaking at Harvard Law School Efficiency Project Delivers Results
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Arkansas Entrepreneurs Create HopeA significant number of Arkansas' best-known entrepreneurs started their businesses in recessions.Click Here. AccomplishmentsThe Policy Foundation's research has informed the Arkansas public policy debate for a quarter-century:
Click Here. Visibility: Media Highlights"Recession Call Is Premature" Talk Business September 8, 2019
"Unemployment rate in state dips to 3.4%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times August 17, 2019
"Jobless rate falls in state to 3.5%, lowest on record" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times July 20, 2019
"State's jobless rate steady at 3.6%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times June 22, 2019
"Arkansas jobless rate holds at 3.6%, nonfarm payrolls at record levels" Talk Business June 21, 2019
"New era for performance measures" Jonesboro Sun May 23, 2019
"For efficiency: agency will define reorganization" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times May 6, 2019
"Reorganizing state government" Arkansas Business May 6, 2019
"The Texas school choice market" Abilene Reporter-News April 6, 2019
"Notes on a high-performing Delta county" Talk Business March 27, 2019
"State jobless rate up: industry gains" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times March 23, 2019
"Tax liens an overlooked problem in Arkansas" Batesville Daily Guard March 22, 2019
"State's jobless rate holds in January" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times March 12, 2019
"Speakers Circuit" El Dorado News-Times March 10, 2019
"Citizenship informs efficiency" El Dorado News-Times March 9, 2019
"Incentives to Pander" Regulation Spring 2019
"Give Families Freedom to Choose" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times February 5, 2019
"Arkansas manufacturing sector faces dearth of skilled workers with tight labor pool, low unemployment" Talk Business February 2, 2019
"Senate panel takes up governor’s transformation plan, asks for financial impact analysis" Talk Business January 22, 2019
"Arkansas joblessness rate stays put at 3.6%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times El Dorado News-Times January 19, 2019
"A good sign" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times December 28, 2018
"State's joblessness rate ticks up to 3.6%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times December 22, 2018
"Tax cut task force leader looking to avert Kansas, Oklahoma-like budget disaster" Talk Business November 27, 2018
"Jobless rate 3.5% as Arkansas trend holds" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times November 17, 2018
105.9 KNRS Salt Lake City, Utah October 31, 2018
"Utah is the national leader in jobs creation. What can go wrong?" Deseret News October 30, 2018
"State jobless rate hits record low 3.5%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record October 20, 2018
"Reorganization and 'Shared Services'" Talk Business October 16, 2018
"State's jobless rate at 3.6%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record September 22, 2018
"Arkansas jobless rate inches lower" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times August 18, 2018
"Young Citizen Makes A Difference" Log Cabin Democrat August 2, 2018
"Citizenship works" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times August 2, 2018
"State's 3.8 percent jobless rate hanging on for fifth-straight month" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times July 21, 2018
"Term limits and experience" Jonesboro Sun July 1, 2018
"Unemployment rates among black teens in Arkansas is twice as high as any other ethnicity" KTHV-11 CBS affiliate, Little Rock May 14, 2018
"Hutchinson touts reorganization efforts at town hall" May 10, 2018 El Dorado News-Times
"Analysts note sag in state job growth; unemployment rate remains at 3.8%" April 21, 2018 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times
"Stronger FOIA laws save Arkansas taxpayers money" Watchdog.org April 11, 2018
"Governor's aim to reduce number of state agencies has some retiree fund trustees worried" April 7, 2018 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record
"Let the sun shine" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record March 31, 2018
"Considering the UBI" Regulation Magazine Spring 2018 Regulation: Spring 2018
"Jobless rate up to 3.8% for state" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record March 24, 2018
"State's jobless rate stays put at 3.7%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record March 13, 2018
"Transparency needed in distressed districts" Jonesboro Sun March 11, 2018
"Business and efficient government" Arkansas Business February 26, 2018
"Arkansas' jobless rate holds at 3.7%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record January 24, 2018
Arkansas Charter SchoolsA 1996 Policy Foundation study played a key role launching the Arkansas charter school movement.Click Here. Arkansas Property Tax Appeal InformationSocialism Doesn't WorkFriedrich A. Hayek taught at the Univ. of Arkansas-Fayetteville in the early 1950s. He was awarded the 1974 Nobel Prize in Economics. His insight? Socialism doesn't work due to the lack of a price system. Making A Difference In ArkansasThe Arkansas Council on Economic Education (ACEE) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization founded in 1962 to promote economic literacy in Arkansas. Journal Publications“Michigan’s MEGA Tax Credits: Hayek’s Insight” Economic Development Quarterly Cleveland: Sage Publications 2012 "Wolverines, Razorbacks and Skyscrapers" Transaction Periodicals Consortium, Rutgers University Winter 2010 "The Austrian School in the NBER's Business Cycle Studies" QJAE Summer 2010 'Regulation of financial derivatives in the U.S. code' Non-Profit Resourceswww.foundationcenter.org |
