Governor Asa Hutchinson on Monday called for a reduction of the state’s top income tax bracket from 6.9% to 6%. The proposal, made during his address to the Arkansas General Assembly to begin the fiscal session, did not include an estimated reduction in state revenue, but members of the Joint Budget Committee said it would be roughly $180 million if done all at once.

Also, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) estimates that 162,000 Arkansans would be eligible for the top tier reduction.

The governor said the fiscal session is simple in focus, but “the opportunities are significant” in terms of addressing a range of issues that include the growing opioid crisis, support for rural broadband, and the top rate tax cut.   MORE