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.
Timely tips for the Arkansas home gardener.
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!
Wayne MillerCPEDEmail: wmiller@uada.edu
by Wayne Miller - November 9, 2020
In a reversal of recent trends, Arkansas county government sales tax revenue went down in August 2020. This decline was more severe for rural counties, and occurred as the boost from temporary federal financial assistance such as the CARES Act diminished.
Until recently, county government sales tax revenue in Arkansas grew almost every month in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on employment and some businesses. If August sales tax revenue is an indicator of the beginning of a decline in revenue, then without additional federal funding and until we get the COVID-19 pandemic under control, rural county governments that rely heavily on sales tax revenue to pay for the infrastructure and services they provide to residents and businesses will either need to find alternative sources of revenue or cut back on the services provided.
August 2020 was the first month in 2020 where revenue from county government sales taxes declined statewide from the previous month, except for a slight decline from March to April.
County sales tax revenue fell 2.2 percent statewide between July and August 2020. Rural counties[1] were disproportionally affected by the decline in sales tax revenue (Figure 1).
County sales tax revenue fell 3.5 percent in the rural counties between July and August 2020 compared to a decline of only 1.2 percent in the urban counties. Counties in the Delta and Highlands regions of the state were especially hit hard by decline in county sales tax revenue, falling slightly over 4 percent in each region.
County sales tax revenue grew slowly from April to July in part due to funding in the CARES Act, which provided enhanced unemployment benefits, funding for individuals, businesses, state and local governments, and other funding to keep the economy from declining sharply. However, some of this funding has expired and we are beginning to see the effect on income and spending, which affects local government revenue.
More than two-thirds (51) of Arkansas’ 74 counties with a sales tax saw their revenue from the county sales tax decline from July to August 2020 (Figure 2). Forty-four of the 51 counties experiencing declines in their sales tax revenue were rural. While the declines in sales tax revenue for some counties were small, 24 counties experienced declines between 5 percent and 14 percent from July to August.
While August statewide county sales tax revenue was still above March 2020 levels, 12 rural counties had less sales tax revenue in August than March. Also, 17 rural counties generated less revenue from their county sales tax in August 2020 compared to August 2019.
Because rural counties tend to rely more heavily on sales tax revenue, these counties are likely to face difficult budget decisions unless additional federal funding is available in the short-term.
The Community, Professional, and Economic Development unit at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will continue to monitor county government revenue and provide updates as the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and any additional federal assistance become more clear.
[1] For a definition of rural and urban counties and a listing of counties in each region, please see our 2019 Rural Profile of Arkansas at: https://uaex.uada.edu/ruralprofile