State Sen. Bryan King of Green Forest is backing a proposal he says could significantly increase funding for counties across Arkansas, including Carroll County.
King has introduced Senate Resolution 6 in the Arkansas General Assembly, a procedural step that would allow him to file legislation creating a new revenue stream for counties through what is called the “Equal Distribution County Turnback Fund.”
King addressed the Carroll County Quorum Court about his proposal at its most recent meeting, on March 17.
“I think whenever you look at it, the legislature and the governor have been giving less and less back,” King said of state turnback funds — tax revenue collected by the state and then distributed to cities and counties.
“Turnbacks should be about 5 percent of the budget, I’ve always said,” King said. “In the last three, four years, it’s been averaging about 3.5 percent.”
King said that reduction has added up over time.
“You take a percent and a half on over a $6 billion budget and within four years’ time, you’re talking about, close to $400 million, that should be returned to counties and cities to work with to solve problems,” he said.
Under the proposal, the state would set aside the first $150 million in certain tax revenues each fiscal year into a dedicated fund. Once that threshold is reached, each of Arkansas’ 75 counties would receive $2 million annually.
The legislation outlines how those funds could be used, with the majority directed toward infrastructure and equipment, including county roads as well as water and sewer systems. A smaller portion could be used to support fire departments, law enforcement agencies or other community projects.
King said recent state budget trends have reduced the amount of money flowing back to local governments.
“If you look at the last three years … turnback in ’23, ’24 was 3.3 percent,” he said. “So you take on $6 billion, you’re talking about almost $100 million. So you’re taking well over $350 million less has been returned to county governments and city governments to work with.”
The proposal includes an emergency clause stating that counties are struggling financially because of rising costs and need additional funding to maintain essential services.
If approved by lawmakers, the measure would take effect July 1, 2026.
The General Assembly’s 2026 Fiscal Session is scheduled to convene at noon Wednesday, April 8.
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