The Tolbert Report

In his meeting with President Obama and members of his administration, Gov. Mike Beebe was relived to find out that Arkansas will still benefit for the stimulus funds designated for educational shortfalls, according to a conversation the Tolbert Report had tonight with governor’s spokesman Matt DeCample.  The governor’s office was concerned that Arkansas could be penalized by the Arkansas budgetary process which first ensures that the state’s educational system is adequately funded but the Obama administration reassured Beebe directly that the state could spending these funds for what is referred to as “deferred maintenance.”

“These funds could be used for necessary repairs and for retrofitting a public school building to make it more energy efficient,” DeCample said, “However, it could not be used for new construction.”  When pressed for how much would go for repairs and how much for refitting, DeCample said he was not sure but stressed that making public buildings more environmental friendly is an important priority of the Beebe administration as “this benefits everyone.”

I also asked DeCample about the vast discrepancy in the numbers reported Arkansas may receive from the stimulus package of between $2 billion and $4 billion.  DeCample said that his office knew of appropriately $2.1 billion in direct funding for Arkansas but that the potentially up to $2 billion in additional funds are primarily from matching grant from which the state may qualify.