By Senator Bryan King
Our Founding Fathers set up a brilliant plan by balancing large-population states with rural states. This truly visionary approach has helped keep our nation from becoming divided and destroyed. States like Arkansas having two senators, making us equal with larger-population states such as California and New York, benefits Arkansas and our nation.
Currently, sales tax is collected and sent to the state, then distributed back to counties in the form of what is called turnback funding.
Unfortunately, local governments and taxpayers are not getting back what they deserve. At times during my career, turnback was over five percent. Unfortunately, this governor has whittled the return of locally generated tax dollars down to 3.4 percent in 2024 and 2025. This last turnback was a painful 3.3 percent.
Local governments are struggling because of the lack of funding from the state.
In the next general session, I will introduce a bill to place the first $150 million in sales tax collected into the Equal Distribution County Turnback Fund. Once $150 million is collected, the state will be directed to distribute $2 million to each county in Arkansas. This will not be a one-time distribution, but an annual distribution.
This funding stream will provide 90 percent to be used by county governments for basic infrastructure. Ten percent could be used for rural fire departments, senior centers, and community projects.
This revenue stream could be used for county roads, bridges, buildings, jails, or road equipment. It could also be used to increase county deputy pay or make debt-service payments on bonds. A county that still owes money on a county jail expansion could pay off its debt early, thus saving taxpayers millions of dollars in interest.
Another example would be using locally generated tax dollars to help with water or sewer projects. This money could greatly benefit water systems through low-interest loans for expansion or maintenance.
Continually increasing costs to water systems are forcing higher water bills. Proper turnback funding could help reverse those increases.
A better turnback percentage could help lower crime by allowing counties to hire more deputies or increase county deputy pay. This would make every county safer by providing additional law enforcement resources.
Senior centers and rural fire departments desperately need more funding. Senior centers provide Meals on Wheels, helping seniors remain in their homes. Rural and paid fire departments respond to us in our time of need.
President Ronald Reagan said that the best government is the government closest to the people. We need to follow that advice and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers.
It’s time to get local! Our citizens deserve better, and our local governments need more funding to help them serve citizens—not special-money interests in Little Rock.
