By Caleb Taylor How can Arkansas counties improve their political transparency? In their latest research, “Arkansas Policy Recommendations: Political Transparency,” ACRE Policy Analysts Joyce Ajayi and Dr. Mavuto Kalulu discuss how county elected officials can improve the transparency of their quorum court meetings. Ajayi and Kalulu begin by noting that some Arkansas counties still don’t […]
ACRE Review
Arkansas Policy Recommendations: Procurement Transparency
By Caleb Taylor How can Arkansas counties and school districts improve their procurement transparency? In their latest research, “Arkansas Policy Recommendations: Procurement Transparency,” ACRE Policy Analysts Joyce Ajayi and Dr. Mavuto Kalulu discuss how counties and school districts can improve the web transparency of their finances. Ajayi and Kalulu begin by noting that “Arkansas has […]
ACRE Director Discusses Legislative Session
By Caleb Taylor ACRE Director and UCA Professor of Economics Dr. David Mitchell joined Americans for Prosperity-Arkansas on May 20th to discuss some of ACRE’s work in the recent legislative session. Mitchell said ACRE experts speak to legislators and community groups “to show what the data actually shows on a variety of issues.” Mitchell said: […]
Arkansas Policy Recommendations: Elected Officials’ Salaries Transparency
By Caleb Taylor How many county governments publish the salaries of their elected officials? In their latest research, “Elected Officials’ Salaries Transparency,” ACRE Policy Analysts Joyce Ajayi and Dr. Mavuto Kalulu discuss this and ways county governments can improve their online transparency. Ajayi and Kalulu begin by noting that only two counties in Arkansas publish […]
Improve Economic Opportunities by Ending Fee-Only Licenses
By Caleb Taylor Should Arkansas eliminate many fee-only licenses? The 2019 Arkansas Legislature passed Act 600, mandating sunset reviews of every licensed occupation in Arkansas. “Occupational Licensing and Arkansas’s Act 600,” by ACRE Policy Analyst Alex Kanode discusses the reforms and missed opportunities of the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Occupational Licensing Review Subcommittee’s first round of […]
Smith Testifies on Shampooing De-Licensure Bill
By Caleb Taylor ACRE Legislative Research Associate Dr. Nathan Smith recently testified in favor of legislation removing barriers to work to certain cosmetology workers House Bill 1746 delicenses shampooers and exempts those who provide “simple” hairstyling services from being required to complete 1500 training hours to get a cosmetology license. Smith said at a House […]
Mitchell, Smith Discuss Taxes and LTRF on Dave Elswick Show
By Caleb Taylor What’s the latest news on taxes and spending policies in Arkansas? ACRE Director and UCA Associate Professor of Economics Dr. David Mitchell and ACRE Legislative Research Associate Dr. Nathan Smith joined the Dave Elswick Show on 101.1 FM in Little Rock to answer this and more on Monday, April 26th. Smith recommended […]
Tax Incentive Bill Unwise Use of Funds, Says ACRE Researcher
By Caleb Taylor ACRE Legislative Research Associate Nathan Smith recently testified against legislation expanding tax credits for some businesses in Arkansas. Smith said the bill would be “basically just a giveaway of millions of dollars a year to shareholders of these companies.” Senate Bill 543 sponsored by State Sen. David Wallace and State Rep. Joe […]
Arkansas Economics Challenge Winners Announced
By Terra Aquia Who were the winners of the 2021 Arkansas Economics Challenge? Twenty-seven students from seven Arkansas high schools met virtually on April 8th to compete in the Arkansas Economics Challenge. Winning teams from this competition are eligible to advance to additional stages with other high school students from all over the U.S. The […]
ACRE Expert Testifies on Transparency for Economic Development Incentives
By Caleb Taylor Should local public officials be able to meet in secret to discuss economic development projects? House Bill 1280 sponsored by State Rep. Delia Haak R-District 91 and State Sen. Lance Eads R-District 7 would amend Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to allow for an executive session to be called by local […]