ARKANSAS PROPERTY TAX APPEAL INFORMATION
Featured ArticlesTax Rates Can Be Cut Using Surplus Revenues(December 2013) The state's November General Revenue Report shows another fiscal year (2013-14) surplus emerging, another reminder that Arkansas' uncompetitive tax rates can be cut using surplus revenues.
Business Owners Are Public Servants(December 2013) Business owners--from the anonymous innkeeper whose generosity provided shelter to Joseph and Mary to the high-tech geniuses behind Space Age technological wonders--exist to serve the public, i.e., consumers. This insight is lost when civil discourse descends to class warfare instead of examining the factors behind a market-based order, which leads to the production of consumer goods and economic prosperity.
Supply, Demand & Arkansas Medicaid Expansion(November 15, 2013) Barely 20 percent of Arkansans eligible for expanded Medicaid coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act have enrolled after six weeks of the program. Media reports on technological glitches with a federal site have ignored other problems with Arkansas Medicaid expansion that betray a basic misunderstanding of economic supply and demand.
Arkansas Higher Ed Tuition Costs Outpace Inflation(October 2013) In-state undergraduate tuition costs for students attending Arkansas' largest public universities continue to outpace inflation despite the lowest multi-year increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) since the early 1960s.
The Unprecedented Contraction of Arkansas' Civilian Labor Force(September 19, 2013) Arkansas' civilian labor force--all employed and unemployed Arkansans--is contracting in an expansion, an unprecedented development in state labor market records that date to the mid-1970s. The trend may continue when the August employment report is released Friday.
Arkansas Education Needs High Standards(September 2013) Two state Department of Education reports obtained by the Policy Foundation illustrate that low educational standards continue to contribute to subpar Arkansas employment growth, as surrounding states outperform in an economy that entered its fifth year of expansion in June.
Limit State Spending, Create Jobs & Paychecks(August 2013) Arkansas state government does not have a revenue problem. State revenues have recorded surpluses for the last three fiscal years: $300 million (2012-13), $146 million (2011-2012) and $94 million (2010-2011). The people of Arkansas, by contrast, are faced with weak employment and income markets. Arkansas payroll employment has increased by less than the U.S. average since the recession ended in mid-2009. Arkansas per capita and median incomes trail the U.S. averages.
Dr. Milton Friedman's Education Reform Ideas to be Discussed at July 31 Conway ForumThe 101st anniversary of the birth of Dr. Milton Friedman (1912-2006), the 1976 Nobel Economics laureate will be commemorated at a July 31 forum hosted by the Policy Foundation in Conway.
The Oligopoly(June 2013) Business enterprises in a market-based economy serve consumers. Any enterprise intent on selling a good or service begins by asking, ‘What are the economics?’ The problems to be solved include determining market type, estimating consumer demand, identifying the required supply of the product, assessing the costs involved, and setting prices using market signals. These issues are not merely academic. They are practical, and will determine whether or not the enterprise is a success.
ACORN & Taxpayer Funding(June 2013) Three decades before Congress voted to defund a welfare lobby founded in Arkansas, congressional auditors found the group disregarded federal guidelines by using trainees in a taxpayer-funded program for political activity. The episode illustrates the peril of legislators creating bias in the policy arena by subsidizing pet groups with tax dollars.
Surplus State Revenues & A 6.5% Top Income Tax Rate(June 2013) Arkansas Republicans, in control of the General Assembly for the first time since Reconstruction reduced the top state income tax rate from 7.0 to 6.9% in the session that ended last month. But the top rate could have been cut to 6.5% in the new fiscal year if policymakers had earmarked surplus state revenues for relief starting with the middle class.
Medicaid Expansion & Economic Shortages(May 2013) Economists and medical professionals have understood for some time that shortages exist within Arkansas’ health care system. But the bipartisan group of state lawmakers that expanded Arkansas’ Medicaid rolls by an estimated quarter-million recipients (250,000) ignored this issue in three public acts that expanded the program. The unintended economic consequence is that existing Arkansas medical shortages will worsen.
Top Arkansas Income Tax Rate Reduced From 7.0 to 6.9 Percent(April 2013) The state legislature has reduced the top Arkansas income tax rate from 7.0 to 6.9 percent on net income greater than $44,000 for “tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015.” The measure also cuts income taxes for lower-income Arkansans beginning in January 2014.
States of Employment Growth(April 2013) The capital gains tax cut approved by the first Republican-controlled state legislature since Reconstruction is a modest step toward creating a more pro-growth economic climate in Arkansas. The measure, sponsored by House Speaker Davy Carter, R-Cabot, increases the capital gains exemption from individual income taxes from 30 to 50 percent. Carter defined the issue in terms of creating incentives for job creators.
School Letter Grades Approved(March 25, 2013) The state General Assembly has approved part of a 15-year-old Murphy Commission recommendation that clarifies for parents the public school rating system, amending annual school report cards from numerical to letter grades.
Medicaid Unfunded Liabilities Expand Under So-Called "Private" Option(March 2013) The unfunded liabilities of the state’s ‘ARKids First program,’ a major part of Arkansas Medicaid are estimated to expand by more than $1 billion under a so-called “private” option under review by state legislators.
The State of Arkansas Manufacturing(February 2013) Beebe administration officials are asking the state General Assembly to approve a $125 million bond deal for a steel production facility at Osceola in east Arkansas that promises 525 new jobs. But the state of Arkansas manufacturing is so weak, compared to historical levels that the proposed mill is likely to have minimal impact on employment and GDP.
Overlooked Issues in Medicaid Debate(January 15, 2013) Arkansas policymakers are debating Medicaid expansion, yet a number of key issues have been overlooked by observers.
Mission StatementThe Arkansas Policy Foundation is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that analyzes the impact of public policy on Arkansas and makes recommendations.  
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Policy AccomplishmentsFollowing is a list of policy accomplishments recorded by the Arkansas Policy Foundation in its 19-year history as a market-based think tank: Click Here. Visibility: Media Highlights"Manufacturing Base Lifts Arkansas GDP" Talk Business August 20, 2014
"An Economic Response To Income Inequality" Arkansas Money & Politics July/August 2014
"Arkansas out-of-job rate dips to 6.2%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record July 19, 2014
"Jobless rate for state drops again, to 6.4%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record June 21, 2014
"Arkansas' labor force size continues decline" City Wire (Fort Smith) June 20, 2014
"Arkansas jobless rate dips again to 6.4%" Talk Business June 20, 2014
"Arkansas' income-parity struggle" City Wire (Fort Smith) May 29, 2014
"Jobless rate relevancy" City Wire (Fort Smith) May 28, 2014
"Jobless rate dips 0.3% as labor force shrinks" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record Rogers Morning News Springdale Morning News May 17, 2014
"The power of ideas: charter schools good for Arkansas" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record Rogers Morning News Springdale Morning News May 12, 2014
"Term limits, age and experience" The Commercial (Pine Bluff) April 23, 2014
"State jobless rate dips to 6.9%, lowest since '09" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times April 19, 2014
"State Supreme Court will soon have majority of female justices" Daily Record (Little Rock) April 18, 2014 Jonesboro Sun The Courier News (Russellville) The Daily Citizen (Searcy) April 15, 2014 The Commercial (Pine Bluff) April 14, 2014
"Arkansas pupils' test scores climb but state still lags nation" Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record April 11, 2014
"Union County Achieves Elusive Income Goal" Talk Business April 4, 2014
"Term limits have brought fewer attorneys, more women" Jonesboro Sun April 3, 2014
"NW Arkansas job data outrank nation's sectors" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times March 30, 2014
"State's jobless rate at 7.1% last month" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times March 29, 2014
"City growth outpaces state" Jonesboro Sun March 27, 2014
"Revisions point to state jobless downtrend" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times March 18, 2014
"APF director says Union County tops the state in PCPI" El Dorado News-Times March 13, 2014
"Speakers Bureau" El Dorado News-Times March 9, 2014
"State's jobless rate dips in December" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times Rogers Morning News Springdale Morning News January 29, 2014
"State's unemployment rate holds at 7.5%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times December 21, 2013
Dave Elswick Show KARN-AM 920 November 26, 2013 November 20, 2013
"Arkansas jobless rate goes up a tick to 7.5%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times November 23, 2013
"The education-jobs link" The City Wire (Fort Smith) November 12, 2013
"Labor market decision makers not fooled by low school standards" Jonesboro Sun October 26, 2013
"Jobs and Paychecks are Troubling Issues" Talk Business Arkansas September/October 2013
"Quick Action is lure governor casts alone" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times Rogers Morning News Springdale Morning News September 29, 2013
"Jobless rate flat as labor force shrinks" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times September 21, 2013
"Arkansas' labor force shrinking, jobless rate at 7.4%" Talk Business City Wire September 20, 2013
"Arkansas Must Fight For Manufacturing Jobs" September 12, 2013 City Wire
"Bill Clinton's Potemkin Village" September 5, 2013 Daily Caller
"State's jobless rate up to 7.4%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record August 20, 2013
"New Mexico, Arkansas lead on food tax" Santa Fe New Mexican August 19, 2013
"Manufacturing Job Rebound Fades In Arkansas" City Wire Talk Business August 8, 2013
"Outlying towns outgrow big cities" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record July 23, 2013
"Arkansas rate of joblessness holds at 7.3%" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record July 20, 2013
"Economist: Oklahoma policymakers derstand that tax rates matter" Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) July 19, 2013
"A milestone nears: charters still defying status quo" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record July 11, 2013
"From Theory to Practice" University Bookman June 26, 2013
"Arkansas' jobless rate rises in May" City Wire June 24, 2013
"State jobless rate hits 7.3 percent in May" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times June 22, 2013
Dave Elswick Show KARN FM 102.9 May 28, 2013
“Northwest Arkansas Shows State How It’s Done” Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record May 12, 2013
“New Solutions for Pine Bluff’s Economy” The Commercial (Pine Bluff) May 3, 2013
"Economist: AR. Growth Only Firing on Two Cylinders" Talk Business April 22, 2013
"Report shows fewer Arkansans employed" The City Wire April 21, 2013
"Arkansas' jobless rate stays at 7.2%" April 20, 2013 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times
Alice Stewart Show 96.5 FM/KHTE March 4, 2013
"Tax cuts on the agenda" Jonesboro Sun February 10, 2013
"Term Limits Weakening The Legislature" Log Cabin Democrat (Jason Tolbert column) January 20, 2013
"Best Books 2012" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times December 23, 2012
"State jobless rate dips to 7%, but work force is shrinking" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times December 22, 2012
“Arkansas Policy Foundation renews tax cut call” Commercial (Pine Bluff) Log Cabin Democrat (Conway) Courier (Russellville) November 25, 2012
“How to cut taxes Fiscal policy effect should be focus” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record November 24, 2012
“How to change taxes Memo to Arkansas legislators” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record November 20, 2012
“Arkansas Policy Foundation renews tax cut call” City Wire Talk Business November 19, 2012
“Slow recovery due to stimulus, economist says” El Dorado News-Times August 30, 2012
“Speakers Bureau” El Dorado News-Times August 27, 2012
"Under The Radar" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette August 20, 2012
"Eatery tax takes too big of a bite, restaurants say" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette July 15, 2012
"State jobs up, pay slips in U.S. report" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record July 11, 2012
"Want Tax Reform? Encourage Business" Arkansas Business Weekly July 9, 2012
"Earned but not sought?" Jonesboro Sun July 6, 2012
"Tax credit is often not claimed" Daily World (Helena) July 6, 2012
"Stimulus and Infrastructure" El Dorado News-Times July 5, 2012
"State 2nd in guage of Money insecurity" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record June 22, 2012
"EITC: An unconventional income approach" Arkansas Business Weekly June 18, 2012
"District takeover was predictable" Pine Bluff Commercial June 12, 2012
"Small Greek economy could make big waves in the U.S." City Wire June 18, 2012
"Arkansas' GDP slows in 2011" June 8, 2012 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record
"Medicaid Discussion Needed" June 7, 2012 Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record
"State Can Lead Way" June 4, 2012 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times Benton County Daily Record
"Hundreds in Legal Discourse on Health Care" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette March 28, 2012
"Skyscrapers and the Alabama Economy" Birmingham Business Journal February 17, 2012
"As National Manufacturing Rebounds, Arkansas Offers A Different Picture" Talk Business February 14, 2012
"Helping Low Income Arkansans Keep More of the Money They Earn" KARK-4 January 23, 2012
"Ratings system grades schools" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Benton County Daily Record Northwest Arkansas Times January 22, 2012
"Arkansas' Largest Trading Partner" Arkansas Business Weekly January 16, 2012
"State At Disadvantage" Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Arkansas Times January 5, 2012
Socialism Doesn't WorkFriedrich A. Hayek taught at the Univ. of Arkansas-Fayetteville in the early 1950s. He was awarded the 1974 Nobel Prize in Economics. His insight? Socialism doesn't work due to the lack of a price system. Making A Difference In ArkansasThe Arkansas Council on Economic Education (ACEE) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan, educational organization founded in 1962 to promote economic literacy in Arkansas. Peer-Reviewed ResearchThe Arkansas Policy Foundation is an educational organization that regularly submits its research to scholarly journals that use a peer review process. Journal Publications“Michigan’s MEGA Tax Credits: Hayek’s Insight” Economic Development Quarterly Cleveland: Sage Publications 2012 "Wolverines, Razorbacks and Skyscrapers" Transaction Periodicals Consortium, Rutgers University Winter 2010 "The Austrian School in the NBER's Business Cycle Studies" QJAE Summer 2010 'Regulation of financial derivatives in the U.S. code' Non-Profit Resourceswww.foundationcenter.org |
