Tax revenue up in Arkansas

Hutchinson took a moment to highlight the bettering economic picture in Arkansas. Higher-than-expected sales tax revenue, along with a $400 million state surplus, is evidence that more Arkansans are returning to work and spending in the economy, Hutchinson said.

Hutchinson also stated the state would not extend the 11 p.m. curfew placed upon bars and restaurants in Arkansas. That curfew was set to expire on Feb. 3.

State officials said Arkansas’ vaccination plans are proceeding well, with more than 318,000 doses given as of Tuesday – or around 62 percent of all the doses received so far in Arkansas. The state remains in vaccination phase 1-B, which focuses on Arkansans aged 70 and older as well as educators in the state.

Arkansas Health Secretary Dr. Jose Romero briefly detailed the hopeful decline in Arkansas’ hospitalization rate and the state’s continued search for new varients of the virus.

State Commerce Secretary Mike Preston then provided an update on the recently reinstated Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program in Arkansas. He outlined that most Arkansans who are eligible for this additional assistance should have or will soon be receiving an email with vital identification requirements. Recipients are asked to respond as soon as possible by clicking the link provided in the email and following the online instructions. In addition, he reminded that Arkansans on traditional unemployment will need to exhaust those resources before they are eligible for the PUA program. He invited Arkansans with questions to call the Department of Workforce Services at (844) 908-2178.

Preston then addressed those Arkansans who have received a 1099 in the mail due to fraudulent unemployment claims made by scammers during the pandemic. He said victims of this scam must file a police report if they have not done so yet and send it to the Department of Workforce Services by a Feb. 12 deadline.

Those police reports can be emailed to ADWS.InternalAudit@arkansas.gov.