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Publication Sneak Peek: Our Two Cents
This segment features content from other AAEA publications. Our Two Cents is a monthly publication available to subscribing districts. The following excerpt comes from the April 2024 issue.
Department of Finance & Administration Revenue Report for March 2024
Bolstered by increased sales and use and individual income tax collections, the state’s general gross revenue collections in March increased by $21.3 million, (3.2%) over a year ago, to $688.8 million. March's collections also beat the state's general revenue forecast by $60.1 million (9.6%). Revenues were above the same time a year ago primarily due to higher sales tax and individual income tax collections. State officials remain optimistic concerning the Arkansas economy and revenue forecast with the last quarter of FY2024 remaining.
During the first nine months of FY2024, the state's total general revenue collections have declined by $91.7 million, or 1.5%, from the same period in fiscal 2023, but exceeded the state's latest forecast by $85.4 million, or 1.4%. The state's general revenue collections have slipped because of the state's individual and corporate income tax cuts and slowing general revenue collections in FY2024.
The state’s latest general revenue forecast, released February 1, projects a general revenue surplus of $240.5 million at the end of FY2024.
The Legislature convened in its fiscal session on April 10 to consider the Governor's proposed general revenue budget for FY2025. Governor Sanders has proposed a $109.3 million, or 1.76%, increase to $6.31 billion in the state's general revenue budget for FY2025, with a $65.7 million increase to $97.4 million for the state's Education Freedom Accounts to help students attend private school, parochial school or home school, and a $38.2 million increase to $2.48 billion for the public school fund.
Attorney General Opinion 2024-055
In Attorney General Opinion 2024-055 the AG was asked whether or not the Osceola School District’s decision to release certain records was consistent with the FOIA. The AG opined that the custodian’s decision to release a portion of records that have been provided to the AG was consistent with the FOIA. However, the AG did not opine on whether the custodian has properly classified the superintendent’s written response to the investigative findings as a job-performance record. If the superintendent’s response was not created at the behest of the employer, it should be classified as a personnel record. This opinion includes a detailed discussion on general disclosure rules, personnel records, and classification and disclosure of the investigative report.
Attorney General Opinion 2024-042
In Attorney General Opinion 2024-042 the AG was asked to respond to the following question. Act 237 of 2023 (the LEARNS Act) prohibits school districts from “adopt[ing] a personnel policy or incorporate[ing] terms into a personnel contract that provide more rights to personnel than those provided under state law….” LRSD’s personnel policy provides a hearing for “grievances,” which is defined broadly enough to include non-renewals of employee contracts. Does this policy improperly provide more rights than “those provided under state law”? The AG responded that the LRSD policy is generally consistent with state law, but it also contains some provisions that are inconsistent with state law. The latter provisions would provide more rights than those provided under state law, and therefore, are invalid. The full opinion provides a detailed rationale for the AG's ruling.
