Halloween Safety Tips

These tips come from the Independent Insurance Agents Association - seemed like a good idea to share them here.

Halloween is just around the corner and many consumers may not realize how scary this night might really be for their personal safety, their property—or their pocketbooks. To help families and businesses have a good time and protect themselves against more scary Halloween risks, offer the following safety tips to consumers via your website or social media outlets:

• Prevent Accidents: Remove or move lawn furniture, or any other obstacles, to avoid accidents or damage. Ensure your home’s entry is in good condition, free of loose or broken pieces on stairwells and walkways to avoid trick-or-treaters’ injuries on your property.

• Fire Dangers: Prevent fires by making sure pumpkins containing candles are placed at a distance where a child’s costume cannot be ignited or a curious guest may tip it over. Extinguish all candles before going to bed and use battery operated lights wherever possible.

• Costume Safety: Be careful with costumes. All disguises should be made from flame-resistant materials and shouldn’t be too long or contain sharp accessories. Try to avoid masks that may obscure vision and try to use hypo-allergenic make-up.

• See and Be Seen: Encourage each trick-or-treater and adult chaperones to carry a flashlight. Apply light-reflecting material to costumes.

• Don’t be a Scary Driver: Drive sober, slowly and even more carefully than usual on Halloween. Watch for children who may be running or wearing dark costumes in the road.

• Power in Numbers: When walking, travel in groups and cross only at corners and crosswalks—never between parked cars—and stay on well-lit streets.

• Unwelcomed Guests: Scare away potential property vandals who often use the chaos of Halloween night to strike by keeping outdoor lights on.

• Pet Safety: Keep pets inside. Warn your children to stay away from animals as they go door-to-door. Halloween night can be stressful, even on the friendliest dog, cat or other creature.

• Candy Inspection: Cavities aren’t the only candy-related risks on Halloween. Inspect all children’s treats. Never eat unwrapped items, collect candy only from those you know and ask the local police department if it offers a candy x-ray and/or inspection service. Throw away any suspicious candy.

Week In Review

State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK – The Senate and House Education Committees voted to add $59.8 million to public school funding next year so that every child in Arkansas has equal access to an adequate education, as required by the state Constitution.

The additional money represents an increase of 2 percent in school funding.

The Education Committee vote was an important and necessary step toward writing the state budget for fiscal year 2012, which the legislature will finalize in the regular session that begins January 10.

The Arkansas Constitution requires the state to provide all children with an adequate education. It does not require the state to provide the numerous other services that people have come to expect from state government. Under the state balanced budget law, when revenue drops and spending must be cut, funding for public schools from kindergarten through grade 12 is spared.

Budget cuts, if necessary, will be made in the rest of state government. That is why health care providers for Medicaid, higher education officials and agency directors throughout state government were closely watching the Education Committee vote. They wanted to know how much funding K-12 is set to receive in order to get a clearer idea how much is left over for their agencies.

The $59.8 million in additional school expenditures will come from the state general revenue fund and from growth in Uniform Rate of Taxation (URT), which is the 25 mills in local property taxes that are dedicated exclusively to public schools.

The exact amount that will come from URT and from general revenue won't be known until next year, during the legislative session.

For context, this year's school funding will total an estimated $2.76 billion. Another way to describe it is that it amounts to a minimum of $6,023 per pupil.

School districts get additional per pupil funding for students with learning disabilities or who come from an impoverished home, because those students require more resources to teach. Also, districts receive bonus funding for students who don't speak English as their primary language.

College Athletic Spending

Athletic spending at the state's two-year colleges and four-year universities rose by 11 percent last year, to a total of $117 million. Ten public universities accounted for virtually all of the athletic spending at Arkansas institutions of higher education. The state's 22 two-year colleges accounted for less than 1 percent of the total amount that was spent on sports in the 2009-2010 school year.

The Department of Higher Education tallied the numbers, which will be sent to legislative auditors. Under state law, last year colleges and universities were allowed to take $1,124,720 from education and general funds to spend on athletics. Five Arkansas universities spent on athletics the maximum they were allowed to transfer from education and general funding, according to the report.

Universities charge students a fee to help cover the cost of athletic programs, which also get money from ticket sales, licensing, sponsorships and private donations.

Arkansas colleges and universities employ about 24,000, who did not get raises this year because of slow tax revenues, caused by the economic downturn.

UACCH Foundation Shoot

The University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Foundation had it's fourth fundraising shoot on Friday. Congressman Mike Ross is the named sponsor of the shoot. A goodly number of people participate in what is just a fun morning. My team has won it in the past but it seemed as if we were a little off this year. I really appreciate my friends from Little Rock who help sponsor the event and I especially appreciate my legislative friends who take time from their busy schedules to come shoot with us. It is good fun for all. The picture above is my cousin and teammate Jim Carlton and I on the line.

Week In Review

State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Economic Development Commission is the state agency that recruits industry and works with existing industry to promote expansions.

The agency has had a relatively good year, considering that much of the national economic stories this year have been filled with depressing news.

Back in May, a Pine Bluff paper mill announced a $53 million expansion. Company spokesmen credited the help of local and state governments in making the expansion possible.

In June, Dumas got some good news when a local pet food processing plant added 44 full time jobs with benefits, the AEDC announced. Also in June, southwest Arkansas added new jobs when a company that processes passports and travel visas dedicated a new service in Hope.

Later in June a Hot Springs firm that produces plastic packaging announced that it would expand operations and add 150 workers to its existing staff of 250.

Central Arkansas got good economic news in July when a major telephone company with operations in 23 states and $4 billion in yearly revenue announced that its corporate headquarters would be located in Little Rock. That added 210 jobs to the existing 300 jobs with the company.

A baby food plant in Fort Smith added 50 full time jobs in July to the 650 it already provided. Also in August an electronic motor manufacturer in Searcy added 55 new jobs to its work force of 70 people. The expansion will allow the firm to build energy efficient "green" motors.

Another electronics firm in Fayetteville announced in August that it would add 75 new jobs over the next few years. The company makes circuit boards, wiring harnesses and other electronic parts.

Northeast Arkansas recently received good news when a manufacturer of laundry products announced it would invest $44 million to build a new facility in Marked Tree and expand an existing facility in West Memphis. The company said that the moves would create 120 new jobs in both cities, for a total of 240 new positions.

In early October officials broke ground on a $100 million plant to build wind turbines in Fort Smith. When it is complete in 2011 it will have a work force of 330 people.

Earlier this month the country's largest manufacturer of fiberglass boats announced an expansion in Flippin that will create an additional 115 jobs.

Last week the paper mill in Crossett announced that it is investing $250 million at its Crossett facility, which will secure the 1,300 jobs it now provides.

In each case the AEDC has helped bring about the expansions. The agency has programs that offer tax incentives, financing for needed upgrades to infrastructure, job training, energy efficiency and help in promoting Arkansas products in overseas markets.

Many incentives are greater in blighted areas where unemployment is above the national average. The AEDC has specialized programs for small businesses and businesses owned by minorities.

A division within the AEDC promotes the film industry in Arkansas. Its staff encourage producers to shoot movies, television shows and commercials on location in Arkansas.

Week In Review

State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas voters will decide on at least two proposed constitutional amendments when they go to the polls.

A third proposed amendment has been challenged at the Supreme Court, and a ruling on whether it stays on the ballot may not come until the 11th hour.

Early voting is from Monday, October 18 through Monday, November 1. Election day is Tuesday, November 2.

The legislature referred three proposed amendments. The first one establishes the constitutional right to fish, hunt, trap and harvest wildlife. Supporters of the amendment say it is needed to ensure that animal rights groups cannot successfully restrict traditional methods of hunting and fishing. The state Game and Fish Commission, which was created in 1945 after Arkansas voters approved Amendment 35, would not be affected by the measure and would retain its authority to regulate hunting and fishing.

Backers of the amendment emphasize that it would not affect current laws on trespassing, eminent domain, public ownership of land or the use of firearms.

The second proposed amendment raises limits on interest rates that retailers based in Arkansas may charge their customers. It also raises the maximum allowable interest rates on local government bond issues. And it creates a new method for the state to issue and pay off bonds for energy efficiency projects.

It is the measure that has been challenged in court by opponents who claim the ballot title is improper.

The current constitutional limit on interest rates that retailers may charge is 5 percentage points above the Federal Discount Rate, which is 0.75 percent. Thus, the limit is 5.75. Business groups say that is too low to make consumer loans feasible, and if the amendment is passed then businesses would be more likely to extend credit.

Banks are not affected by the provisions in the proposed amendment because their interest rate ceilings are determined by federal law. Car dealers, furniture and appliance stores and retailers that extend credit to customers are the major supporters of the measure.

Local governments borrow money for capital projects by issuing bonds, which are under similar constitutional limits on the maximum interest rates that can be charged. The practical effect is that local governments cannot find investors to buy bonds because the interest rates are so low.

The amendment would authorize the legislature to set the maximum interest rates. It also would authorize government entities to issue bonds for energy efficiency projects. They could be paid off with savings resulting from the project or with tax revenue. The legislature would define the types of projects that would be eligible, and their scope.

The third proposed amendment would remove restrictions now in Amendment 82, which allows the state to issue general obligation bonds to recruit large industries. The bonds can finance land acquisition, rail spurs, water and waste service, job training, environmental mitigation and site preparation.

However, under Amendment 82, they can only be issued to recruit industries that hire more than 500 workers and that invest at least $500 million. The proposal on the November ballot would remove those limits.

AmTrack Stop Will Come to Hope

This morning we gathered in Hope to meet with Congressman Ross and Joe Boardman, Amtrack's president, Dan Flowers and many others for a presentation and discussion of an Amtrack stop in Hope. It has been the project of Paul Henley, Catherine Cook and the whole community for 14 years and they deserve much applause and accolade. Mr. Boardman made the stop official today and committed to helping with the funding needed to update the depot to modern standards. Governor Beebe and the Arkansas Economic Development agency have also committed to helping us. The involvement of Congressman Ross was essential to the success and I very much appreciate his efforts.

Crossroads Fire Department

Saturday night was the Crossroads Fire Department's fundraiser. I am not sure how often they have one - must be 2 or 3 times a year. The crowd was good as was the food. I was lucky enough to purchase a couple of jars of homemade muscadine jelly for a reasonable price (could have been worse). I look forward to eating some homemade (as in open the can) biscuits slathered in real butter with some of the jelly.

Week in Review

State Capitol Week in Review

LITTLE ROCK – Legislators have begun budget hearings in preparation for the 2011 regular session.

State government's general revenue spending is estimated to total $4.48 billion this year. The governor will submit official budget recommendations for next year on November 15. Arkansas state government traditionally adopts conservative budgets, which is one reason we are in better fiscal shape than almost every other state in the country. We will likely be even more conservative during the 2011 regular session.

Budget officers from both the legislative and executive branches predict that spending levels will be very conservative next year because of uncertainties about the national economy.

Arkansas operates under a balanced budget law. When the economy stagnates or declines, it causes a drop off in state tax revenue and forces state agencies to reduce spending from previously budgeted levels. For example, last fiscal year the state brought in less than in 2009. Net general revenue in 2009 was less than in 2008.

Last year the state cut planned spending amounts by more than $200 million in order to finish the fiscal year under budget.

During the first days of budget hearings at the Capitol, legislators examine next year's budget requests from boards and commissions that generate revenue from fees. Examples are the boards that license physicians, engineers and architects. Later in the fall the major state agencies will present their budget requests.

Those agencies include the Human Services Department, the Health Department and the Correction Department. Most of their programs are paid for with tax revenue.

Colleges and universities also receive a significant portion of state tax revenue. The largest category of state spending is the public school fund, which distributes state aid to public schools for kindergarten through grade 12.

Teacher Retirement System

Improved earnings from its investments gained about $950 million last year for the state Teacher Retirement System.

The value of the system's assets rose from $8.8 billion to $9.75 billion, mainly because of better performance by the stock market. In the previous year the market value of the system's assets went down because of poor stock market performance.

The upturn is good news for retired and active teachers, although even when the system's assets declined in value there was never any threat that benefits would be negatively affected.

There are almost 71,000 active members in the system, with an average salary of $32,804 a year. The system pays benefits to almost 29,000 retirees. Their average yearly pension is $19,605.

The system's increased value means that its officers probably will not ask the legislature to raise contribution rates of school districts, which is now at 14 percent of payroll. That comes to about $378 million a year.

The Teacher Retirement System is the largest public retirement system in Arkansas. The Public Employees Retirement System is roughly half the size of the teacher system.

Dad's Day at the Sorority

Today was Dad's day at Shelly's sorority (Alpha Sigma Alpha) in Arkadelphia. She attends Henderson State University and may graduate in May. We had a good time playing Frisbee, baggo and some other game. They fed us Dad's some hamburgers and hot dogs and I had one of each. I couldn't risk hurting their feelings.

We also managed to drop by the grocery store and replenish her pantry. It goes without having to be said that I love Shelly very much and I enjoy her roommates also. The dog in the photo is King and he is a big, big doberman. He looks after the girls and keeps them safe.