Arkansas ranked no. 21 for fiscal health

A new report on the financial condition of the 50 states ranked Arkansas no. 21 for its fiscal health in fiscal year 2023. The report found that 27 states did not have enough money to pay their bills at the end of fiscal year 2023. However, Arkansas had more than enough money to pay its bills and the state’s finances improved overall.

The analysis by Truth in Accounting, a nonprofit government finance watchdog group, found Arkansas had $1.1 billion available to pay its bills. This means the state had a Taxpayer Surplus™ of $1100, earning it a “B” grade.

Although Arkansas ended its 2023 fiscal year in strong financial health, market fluctuations in pension values, coupled with uncertainty around inflation and employment, make it challenging to predict the future resources needed to sustain government services and benefits. In light of these uncertainties, it's reassuring that the state has retained funds to cover its financial obligations.