Policy Accomplishments (1995-2011)

Fiscal Policy

• Reduction (75%) in Arkansas Sales Tax on Groceries (2007, 2009, 2011)
  
  (Source: 2002 Policy Foundation research memo, “Free Market Economists and the State Sales Tax on Food;” 2006 Policy Foundation study, “Roadmap for Arkansas Prosperity”)
  
  
• Reduction (30%) in Arkansas Capital Gains Tax Rate (1999)
  
  (Source: 1998 Policy Foundation studies, “Improving Productivity by Reducing Taxes” and “Taxes and Savings In Arkansas.”
  
  
• Performance-Based Budgeting
  • State Pilot Program (1999)
  • Expanded (2001), later discontinued
  
  (Source: 1998 Policy Foundation study, “Making Arkansas’ State Government Performance Driven and Accountable: Four Reforms State Government Can Implement Now to Save Taxpayers Millions”)
  
  
• Reduction (50%) in Arkansas Sales Tax on Groceries (2007, 2009)
  
  (Source: 2002 Policy Foundation research memo, “Free Market Economists and the State Sales Tax on Food;” 2006 Policy Foundation study, “Roadmap for Arkansas Prosperity”)
  
  
• Arkansas State Police Retirement System merger with Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (2009)
  
  (Source: 1998 Policy Foundation study, "The Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System)

• Charter School Expansion (1999, 2005, 2007, 2011)
  
  (Source: 1996 Policy Foundation study, “Arkansas’ Weak Charter School Law”)
  
  
• Expanded School Choice (1999, 2011)
• District and School Report Cards (1999)
• Teacher Performance Pays
  • Little Rock (2004)
  • State Pilot Program (2007)
  
  (Source: 1998 Policy Foundation study, “Arkansas’ Public Schools…A 30-Year $20 Billion Taxpayer Investment Yields An Unprecedented Crisis in Academic Performance”)
  
  
• Uniform Accounting System (post-2003)
• Administrative Restructuring (post-2004), partial (66 districts)
  
  (Source: 1998 Policy Foundation study, “Streamlining and Cost-Saving Opportunities in Arkansas’ K-12 Public Education System”)