(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. These counties post budgets online: Carroll (New Hampshire, Illinois), Columbia (Georgia), Dallas (Texas), Fulton (Georgia), Greene (Missouri), Howard (Maryland), Jefferson (Colorado), Johnson (Kansas, Texas), Lawrence (Tennessee), Lee (Texas), Logan (Oklahoma), Madison (Alabama), Marion (Iowa, Texas), Monroe (Florida, Georgia, Michigan), Montgomery (Maryland, New York, Texas), Newton (Texas), Polk (Florida, Wisconsin), Saline (Kansas) and Scott (Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia).
ACRE Studies
The Arkansas Center for Research in Economics (ACRE) at the Univ. of Central Arkansas in Conway has published two reports on the lack of transparency at the county level:
Arkansas County Government cannot be ‘Transparent’ when One-Third of them have no Web Presence by J.T. Schrock, CPA1
Improve Transparency in Arkansas: Every Arkansas County Needs Fiscal Data Available On-Line by Schrock and David Mitchell, Ph.D.2
Arkansas Center for Research in Economics, March 2015
Policy Foundation Survey
The Policy Foundation researched all 75 counties last year and found Arkansas Legislative Audit provides more transparency than most counties.
Eight counties post their budgets online:
Baxter http://www.baxtercounty.org/public_docs.php
Benton http://www.bentoncountyar.gov/Shared/Budget/BudgetInformation.htm
Craighead
http://www.craigheadcounty.org/approved-2016-operating-budget/
1 http://uca.edu/acre/files/2014/11/County-Government-No-Web-Presence-.pdf, November 2014
2 http://uca.edu/acre/files/2014/11/County-Websites-White-Paper.pdf
Faulkner
http://www.faulknercounty.org/quorum-court/meeting info/61-uncategorised/513- budget
Garland http://www.garlandcounty.org
Pulaski3
(monthly treasurer’s reports) http://pulaskicountytreasurer.net/treasurers-reports/ (revenue) http://pulaskicounty.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2016-REVENUE- REPORTAs-of-11_30_16.pdf
Sebastian
http://www.sebastiancountyar.gov/Departments/County-Judge/Transparency-in- Government
Washington https://www.co.washington.ar.us
Ledge Audit had reports for most counties that did not post budgets.
County Budget or Appropriation Ordinance Online?
Arkansas Not posted at county site
For Notice see Stuttgart Daily Leader
Ashley Not posted at county site See Ashley County Leader
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO00299
Boone Not posted at county site See Harrison Daily News
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO00514
Bradley Not posted at county site See Saline River Chronicle
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO00605
Calhoun Not posted at county site See South Arkansas Sun
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO00605
Carroll Not posted at county site See Carroll County News
3 Also see Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 16 October, 2016 and Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06014
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO00814
Chicot Not posted at county site See Chicot County Spectator
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO00905
Clark Not posted at county site See The Daily Siftings Herald
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO00905
Clay Not posted at county site
See Clay County Times-Democrat
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO01111
Cleburne Not posted at county site See The Sun-Times
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO01205
Columbia Not posted at county site See Magnolia Reporter
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO01405
Conway Not posted at county site
See Petit Jean Country Headlight
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO01504
Crawford Not posted at county site
See Southwest Times-Record
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO01704
Crittenden Not posted at county site
See Evening Times (West Memphis)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO01805
Cross Not posted at county site See Cross County News
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO01805
Dallas Not posted at county site See Fordyce News Advocate
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02014
Desha Not posted at county site See The McGehee Times
Ledge Audit report: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02115 Drew Not posted at county site
See Drew County News
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02215
Franklin Not posted at county site See The Spectator (Ozark)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02414
Fulton Not posted at county site See Spring River Chronicle
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02414
Grant Not posted at county site See The Sheridan Headlight
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02414
Greene Not posted at county site See Paragould Daily Press
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02414
Hempstead Not posted at county site
See Hempstead County News (Hope)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02414
Hot Spring Not posted at county site See Malvern Daily Record
Ledge Audit report: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03013
Howard Not posted at county site See Nashville Leader
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO02414
Independence Not posted at county site
See Batesville Daily Guard
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03214
Izard Not posted at county site See White River Current
6 Dec., 2016 Quorum Court: http://izardcountyar.org/page.php?id=6 Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03214
Jefferson Not posted at county site See Commercial (Pine Bluff)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03514
Johnson Not posted at county site See Charleston Express
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03613
Lafayette Not posted at county site See Lafayette County Press
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03713
Lawrence Not posted at county site
See Times Dispatch (Walnut Ridge)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03811
Lee Not posted at county site
See Courier-Index (Marianna)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO03914
Little River Not posted at county site
See Little River News (Ashdown)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04114
Logan Not posted at county site See Paris Express
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04215
Lonoke Not posted at county site See Arkansas Leader
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04305
Madison Not posted at county site
See Madison County Record (Huntsville)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04414
Marion Not posted at county site See Harrison Daily News
Notice posted: http://marioncounty.arkansas.gov/calendar_view?id=29 Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04514
Miller Not posted at county site See Texarkana Gazette
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04614
Mississippi Not posted at county site See Blytheville Courier News
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=EDSD25014
Monroe Not posted at county site
See Argus Newspaper (Brinkley)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04813 Montgomery Not posted at county site
See Montgomery County News (Mt. Ida)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO04914
Nevada Not posted at county site
See Nevada County Picayune (Prescott)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05009
Newton Not posted at county site
See Newton County Times (Jasper)
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05110
Ouachita Not posted at county site See Camden News
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05214
Perry Not posted at county site
See Petit Jean Country Headlight
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05314
Phillips Not posted at county site See Daily World (Helena)
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05414
Pike Not posted at county site See Murfreesboro Diamond
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05514
Poinsett Not posted at county site
See The Modern News or County Democrat Tribune
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05614
Polk Not posted at county site See Mena Star
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05714
Pope Not posted at county site
See The Courier (Russellville)
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05814
Prairie Not posted at county site
See White River Journal (Des Arc)
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO05914
Randolph Not posted at county site See Pocahontas Star-Herald
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06114
St. Francis Not posted at county site
See Daily Times-Herald (Forrest City)
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06815
Saline Not posted at county site See Saline Courier (Benton)
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06214
Scott Not posted at county site See The Waldron News
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06313
Searcy Not posted at county site See Marshall Mountain Wave
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06414
Sevier Not posted at county site See DeQueen Bee
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06614
Sharp Not posted at county site See Spring River Chronicle
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06714
Stone Not posted at county site See Stone County Leader
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO06914
Union Not posted at county site See El Dorado News-Times
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO07014
Van Buren Ordinance posted at: http://vanburencountyar.com/uploads/Ordinances%202014/2014- 06%20Appropriation%20GIF%20Funds%20Amend%20orig%202013-21.pdf
See Van Buren Democrat
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO07114
White Not posted at county site See Daily Citizen
Ledge Audit: http://www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO07314
Woodruff Not posted at county site
See Woodruff County Monitor
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO07414 Yell Not posted at county site
See Courier News
Ledge Audit: www.arklegaudit.gov/pdf.aspx?id=LOCO07514
–Greg Kaza
