Humbled yet inspired and hopeful
By Debbie Wise, AAC President/Randolph County Circuit Clerk
It has been my honor to serve on the Association of Arkansas Counties’ (AAC) Board of Directors since 2012. I served as chairman of the Board’s Legislative Committee for 10 years, and as AAC Board vice president for six years.
The Board has gone through several changes this year. I now serve as president. Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison is vice president, and Clark County Clerk Rhonda Cole is secretary/treasurer. With the retirement of former Clark County Treasurer Judy Beth Hutcherson and the impending retirement of Columbia County Clerk Sherry Bell, we welcome two new members — Craighead County Treasurer Terry McNatt, who will serve as chair of the Legislative Committee, and Polk County Clerk Terri Harrison.
Serving on the AAC Board has afforded me the opportunity to represent the interests of Arkansas counties at many National Association of Counties (NACo) conferences. I am humbled by the trust county officials have placed in me.
The most recent NACo conference I attended — the 2018 Legislative Conference — left me feeling energized and hopeful. Arkansas counties face a multitude of issues, but we aren’t alone. Counties across the country also struggle with jail overcrowding, inadequate road funding, budgeting during a time of cutbacks, and a devastating drug crisis, among other things.
I was not the lone county official from Arkansas to attend the conference. Judge Ellison, Washington County Judge Joseph Wood, Craighead County Clerk Kade Holliday, and Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Ted Harden also attended. AAC Executive Director Chris Villines and AAC Governmental Affairs Director Josh Curtis accompanied us.
These conferences allow us to network and fellowship with county officials from around the country. I believe it is vital for county officials to come together, discuss their mutual challenges, and then help one another develop solutions.
NACo conferences also are educational. This year’s Legislative Conference featured more than 136 workshops on issues critical to counties.
One workshop that stood out featured a panel discussion about the status of opioid litigation around the country. Many counties or state associations are still exploring litigation against opioid drug manufacturers. Meanwhile, we in Arkansas have taken great strides on this issue. Seventy-two Arkansas counties have joined with municipalities representing about 90 percent of the state’s population to file suit against opioid drug manufacturers for their deceptive marketing practices, which led to an epidemic that has swept the country.
Another issue of importance to Arkansas is the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Many times in the past, Arkansas counties have waited with bated breath to find out whether Congress would fund PILT, and this year is no exception.
In 2017, 68 (or 91 percent of) Arkansas counties received a total of just over $7 million to help offset losses in property taxes due to non-taxable federal lands within their boundaries. Losing this funding would put many of our counties in dire financial straits. While in Washington, Judge Ellison and Josh attended a rally where county officials from all over the country voiced the need for continued funding of the PILT program.
We also heard from some inspiring speakers during the general sessions — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Tim Scott, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long, and Retired Gen. Stan McChrystal. They spoke about topics including the Trump Administration’s infrastructure plan, disaster response and recovery strategies, bipartisanship, and strategic leadership in a changing world.
Finally, I am grateful to the members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation for taking the time to sit down with us and sincerely consider the issues affecting counties.
I walked away from those meetings inspired and hopeful for what is to come. I believe that if local, state and federal government officials continue to work together in tandem, then our communities, Arkansas, and our nation will be the better for it.
