Arkansas Rainy Day Fund to restore library, senior center cuts

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Budget cuts of $1 million to both Arkansas libraries and for senior citizen centers will be restored with money from the state's Rainy Day Fund.

Senate President Pro Tem Jonathan Dismang and House Speaker Jeremy Gillam told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/1YXZdMK ) that the agreement was reached with Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Funding for public libraries was reduced last year from $5.6 million to $4.6 million and the Department of Human Services' Aging and Adult Services Division was cut from $17.6 million to $16.5 million. The House sent $1 million in one-time funding to offset cuts to the senior centers.

The Rainy Day Fund has about $31 million. Dismang said legislative leaders and Hutchinson have agreed to put a portion of the state's more than $50 million in surplus funds into the fund.

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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com

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The Gayly - 4/30/2016 @ 10:55 a.m. CDT