Key takeaways
- Arkansas state government spent $33.5 billion in fiscal 2024, the 29th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Office of State Procurement, and vendors register and find bids in DFA current solicitations.
- The fiscal year starts July 1, and the governor released the FY2028 budget proposal on Nov. 6, 2026.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 11 and is scheduled to adjourn April 28.
Arkansas government at a glance
| Fact | Arkansas |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $33.5 billion (29th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal released Nov. 6, 2026 |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 11 to April 28 (108 days) |
| Central procurement office | Office of State Procurement |
| Bid and vendor portal | DFA current solicitations |
| State CIO | Jay Harton, Director and Chief Technology Officer |
| Local governments | 1,562 total, including 753 special districts and 234 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 15 public power utilities and 17 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 18,503 (end of 2023) |
How Arkansas buys
- Central purchasing. The Office of State Procurement handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. DFA current solicitations is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Arkansas vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Arkansas' fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Released Nov. 6, 2026: Nearly $7 billion general revenue budget; projects a $449 million surplus and proposes another income tax cut, with more for Medicaid, SNAP and school vouchers.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 11 and is scheduled to adjourn April 28. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Jay Harton, Director and Chief Technology Officer, leads the Division of Information Systems. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts no executive orders, no laws and no agency policies on government AI use, plus an AI office or council. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Arkansas
The biggest Arkansas entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arkansas Ntl | Airport | 1,234,923 passengers boarded (2025) | 96 of 100 busiest |
| Central Arkansas Water | Water utility | 368,455 people served | 90 of 208 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 1,562 local governments. That includes 753 special districts and 234 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 15 public power utilities and 17 electric cooperatives serve 784,810 customers, 46% of the state. See Arkansas utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Arkansas buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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