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“A short-term budgetary link should be established between the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and total operational expenditures by agencies.” Policy Foundation Efficiency Project recommendation, 2016 (December 2019) Social services operating expenditures totaled $8.1 billion (FY2017), consuming nearly one-third (32%) of total state spending in this area. Only one other department–Education–topped $1 billion, records show. 1 […]

(November 2019) More K-12 students are now enrolled in the Pulaski County school choice market than in the Little Rock School District, public records show.   An Arkansas Department of Education spokesperson provided current year (2019-2020) K-12 enrollment figures in response to a public information request:   Little Rock School District                               21,472 students1   The school […]

“A short-term budgetary link should be established between … CPI and total operational expenditures by agencies.” Efficiency Project, 2016 (November 2019) The Policy Foundation’s Efficiency Project (2015-16) examined multiple variables at state agencies including a Consumer Price Index analysis.1 Spending at nine agencies exceeded CPI from 2009 to 2015.2 Handful of State Agencies Drive Spending […]

“Define and implement a system of performance-based pay for all state employees.” Policy Foundation, 1998 recommendation   “Performance Pay.  Some state agencies are using this strategy to advance efficiencies.  The practice should be applied to other agencies.” Policy Foundation Efficiency Project, 2016 recommendation   (October 2019) The number of state executive branch employees has declined by 1,589 since Arkansas […]

“Define and implement a system of performance-based pay for all state employees.” Policy Foundation, 1998 recommendation   “Performance Pay.  Some state agencies are using this strategy to advance efficiencies.  The practice should be applied to other agencies.” Policy Foundation Efficiency Project, 2016 recommendation   (October 2019) The number of state executive branch employees has declined by 1,589 since Arkansas […]

“The (Policy) Foundation’s establishment of the Arkansas Efficiency Project in 2015 … was instrumental in beginning the movement … My administration’s Office of Transformation and the state’s Transformation Advisory Board are products of the project and strive to apply efficiency initiatives recommended by the report, as well as organize the state’s plan of action for […]

“It’s almost like they’ve been cheerleading for [a recession]. It’s understandable from their point. Politicians and pundits don’t lose their jobs when there’s a recession, but real, hardworking Americans do.  People should remember what the last recession was like before they start rooting for another recession, even if it would benefit their electoral ambitions.”  U.S. Sen. Tom […]

“The drop in the state’s unemployment rate to a record low is consistent with the duration of the economic expansion, which entered a record 11th year this month.” Policy Foundation, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 20, 20191   (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 […]

“The most callused aspect of the current education monopoly in Arkansas is that it willingly and deliberately forces children–except those whose parents have wealth–to attend bad schools.” Policy Foundation report,1 1998   (July 2019) Two measures enacted this year by Arkansas policymakers take effect this month and expand school choice options for K-12 students.   PA 5482 (sponsor: […]

“Employment and industrial production are more reliable than GDP and the Dow in determining cyclical turning points in the economy.” Policy Foundation, 2009 (July 2019) The U.S. economy entered record territory this month as the economic expansion that began in June 20091 entered its 11th year, eclipsing the previous 10-year record (1991-2001) in the business […]