Little Rock, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – On July 1, a digital dashboard was launched in Arkansas to give taxpayers a real-time look at state government spending and efficiency efforts.
The Arkansas Forward Dashboard tracks the state’s progress toward a goal of cutting $300 million in costs by 2030. The Arkansas Forward initiative has been in place since 2024, and the dashboard is the next evolution in providing transparency toward that goal.
According to the governor’s office, the initiative has already identified roughly $188 million in savings and cost avoidance since launching. In addition, over 300 opportunities to reduce costs and improve government services across the executive branch’s 15 cabinet-level departments have been identified.
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While the cost-cutting measures span IT, procurement, fleet management, personnel, and real estate, business owners in Northeast Arkansas may feel the biggest impact from a parallel push to strip away regulatory red tape.
An executive order signed earlier this year requires state agencies to review their licensing, permitting, and certification processes. Within 180 days, those agencies must submit plans to reduce delays.
For Craighead County applicants, the state plans to introduce clearer permitting timelines, one-stop online application portals, and real-time status updates.
“Arkansans deserve a government that’s accountable for every tax dollar it spends,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. “The Arkansas Forward Dashboard gives taxpayers a front-row seat to the progress we’re making to cut waste, improve services, and deliver better results.”
Department of Shared Administrative Services Secretary Leslie Fisken called the project a team effort across the state’s cabinet departments aimed at streamlining operations.
“We’re happy to share our results with the people of Arkansas, who, ultimately, benefit from this initiative,” Fisken said.
The public can view and download the efficiency datasets through the newly launched Arkansas Forward Dashboard online. The Arkansas Forward Progress Report is also available online.
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