Arkansas

After ending the 2016 fiscal year with a surplus, Arkansas began the new fiscal year with revenues running 1.7% below projections, officials said.

A decision to delay an $83 million refunding until Britons voted on an exit from the European Union proved highly rewarding for Arkansas as interest-rate savings far surpassed earlier expectations, according to those involved in the sale.

Unlike its neighbors, Arkansas does not tap its general revenues for transportation projects.

Arkansas lawmakers ended a special session Monday with approval of a bill to raise $50 million for highways, allowing the state to receive $200 million in federal funds.

A Colorado lawmaker’s proposal for a $3.5 billion state road bond referendum fails in the final hours of 2016 session.

Arkansas revenues remained above the forecast for March as state legislators prepared to open a special session dealing with Medicaid expansion.

With revenue rising more than 28% in February, Arkansas is on track to a $35.9 million surplus by the end of the fiscal year, state officials said.

Municipal bond primary market volume in the Southwest surpassed the previous record set in 2008, climbing 20% to $77.7 billion.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson wants to raise state transportation funding by $750 million over 10 years without raising taxes.

Arkansas revenues for December fell below those reported for the same month in 2014 but managed to surpass expectations by $7.7 million.

A healthy increase in sales and use tax revenue indicates growing consumer confidence, Arkansas officials said.

Like Depression-era Arkansas, Puerto Rico took on too much debt, leading to a crisis when the worldwide economy shrank. But there are some key differences.

Long before Puerto Rico's debt crisis, Arkansas' defaults were followed by a decade of refundings, a debt exchange, and ultimately Federal help to resolve its problems.

A three part series examining Arkansas' road to default, the state's efforts to resolve the crisis, and the similarities and differences with Puerto Rico today.

Most Arkansas polled in a recent survey do not favor a gasoline tax increase to cover a road revenue shortfall.

Arkansas remained ahead of its revenue forecast three months into the fiscal year, with September income 3% above projections, according to John Shelnutt, head of economic analysis and tax research.

Arkansas revives road projects stalled over federal funding concerns, but officials say long-term HTF solution is essential.

Arkansas reported August revenues of $421.4 million, a figure that exceeds collections the same month last year by 5.5% and outpaces projections by 6.7%, according to the state Department of Finance and Administration.

With 20 years of experience in state and local government, Leigh Ann Biernat has joined investment banking firm Stephens Inc. as senior vice president for public finance.

Arkansas revenues reported for July were below the same month last year but above projections, state officials said.