LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Ethics Commission is asking that its state appropriation be increased by about $14,000 to restore funding to 1999 levels.
Commission Director Graham Sloan says in a letter to Gov. Asa Hutchinson that the commission faces a "critical situation" and needs the funding to meet its growing workload.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the commission is also asking for $25,000 to replace its 1999 designed website and for two additional staff positions.
Sloan said the commission received a record 146 citizen complaints during the 2018 election cycle, a 45 percent increase over the 101 received in 2012.
Hutchinson said the staffing requests deserve "review and consideration" and he will work with the commission and legislative leaders to consider the requests during the current legislative session.
The commission's total budget is $785,745 for fiscal 2019.