Pick up know-how for tackling diseases, pests and weeds.
Farm bill, farm marketing, agribusiness webinars, & farm policy.
Find tactics for healthy livestock and sound forages.
Scheduling and methods of irrigation.
Explore our Extension locations around the state.
Commercial row crop production in Arkansas.
Agriculture weed management resources.
Use virtual and real tools to improve critical calculations for farms and ranches.
Learn to ID forages and more.
Explore our research locations around the state.
Get the latest research results from our county agents.
Our programs include aquaculture, diagnostics, and energy conservation.
Keep our food, fiber and fuel supplies safe from disaster.
Private, Commercial & Non-commercial training and education.
Specialty crops including turfgrass, vegetables, fruits, and ornamentals.
Find educational resources and get youth engaged in agriculture.
Gaining garden smarts and sharing skills.
Creating beauty in and around the home.
Maintenance calendar, and best practices.
Coaxing the best produce from asparagus to zucchini.
What’s wrong with my plants? The clinic can help.
Featured trees, vines, shrubs and flowers.
Ask our experts plant, animal, or insect questions.
Enjoying the sweet fruits of your labor.
Herbs, native plants, & reference desk QA.
Growing together from youth to maturity.
Crapemyrtles, hydrangeas, hort glossary, and weed ID databases.
Get beekeeping, honey production, and class information.
Grow a pollinator-friendly garden.
Schedule these timely events on your gardening calendar.
Equipping individuals to lead organizations, communities, and regions.
Guiding communities and regions toward vibrant and sustainable futures.
Guiding entrepreneurs from concept to profit.
Position your business to compete for government contracts.
Find trends, opportunities and impacts.
Providing unbiased information to enable educated votes on critical issues.
Increase your knowledge of public issues & get involved.
Research-based connection to government and policy issues.
Support Arkansas local food initiatives.
Read about our efforts.
Preparing for and recovering from disasters.
Licensing for forestry and wildlife professionals.
Preserving water quality and quantity.
Cleaner air for healthier living.
Firewood & bioenergy resources.
Managing a complex forest ecosystem.
Read about nature across Arkansas and the U.S.
Learn to manage wildlife on your land.
Soil quality and its use here in Arkansas.
Learn to ID unwanted plant and animal visitors.
Timely updates from our specialists.
Eating right and staying healthy.
Ensuring safe meals.
Take charge of your well-being.
Cooking with Arkansas foods.
Making the most of your money.
Making sound choices for families and ourselves.
Nurturing our future.
Get tips for food, fitness, finance, and more!
Understanding aging and its effects.
Giving back to the community.
Managing safely when disaster strikes.
Listen to our latest episode!
Ellie Wheeler CPEDEmail: ewheeler@uada.edu
by Ellie Wheeler - December 1, 2020
An updated publication from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture provides detailed information about how county governments are spending their revenue dollars, and how those expenditures changed from 2000 to 2017.
County governments must provide some public services such as law enforcement, a court system and county jail. They are also involved in property tax administration and public records management.
Arkansas counties also fund a variety of other critical services, including highways and streets maintenance, solid waste, emergency services, community and rural development, and agricultural assistance.
Recently updated, the Spending Trends of County Government in Arkansas publication provides detailed information on county government spending.
While total spending by Arkansas county governments grew between 2000 to 2017, there was wide variability in spending trends between Urban and Rural regions and among counties (Figure 1).
Thirteen Arkansas counties spent less in 2017 than in 2000 - after adjusting for inflation. All but one were Rural counties. Meanwhile, expenditures grew more quickly in Arkansas’ 13 Urban counties from 2000 to 2017.
However, per capita total spending in Rural countries showed more volatility and grew at a faster rate compared to Urban counties. This is because Rural counties still had to provide services, but there were fewer people to share the cost of these services. Between 2000 and 2017, the population of Rural counties decreased 2% while the population of Urban counties increased 25%.
Figure 1. Percent Change in Total Expenditures (2000-2017)
Source: Arkansas Legislative Audit
There were also considerable differences in the share and growth of spending on different expenditure categories between Urban and Rural regions and among counties.
For the majority of the study period, law enforcement and public safety spending accounted for the largest share of total county government expenditures for both Urban and Rural counties. However, Urban counties spent a considerably smaller share on highways and streets compared to Rural counties.
Sixty-eight of the 75 counties in the state spent more per capita in 2017 than in 2000. Nonetheless, large variations in per capita county government spending were observed. It should be noted that there are sometimes economies of scale in providing services. Therefore, counties with larger population may be able to provide similar services at a reduced cost per person. In 2017 there was a strong inverse relationship between total population and per capita expenditures among the 75 counties. This means that, in general, counties with a larger population had lower per capita expenditures.
Find out how county expenditures have changed in your county compared to other counties in the state in our Spending Trends of County Government in Arkansas report and our Fact Sheet.