§ 26-58-124 - Distribution of severance tax generally. - Arkansas Statutes

26-58-124. Distribution of severance tax generally.

(a) All taxes, penalties, and costs collected by the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration under the provisions of this subchapter, except for the taxes, penalties, and costs collected on natural gas, shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Apportionment Fund.

(b) On or before the fifth of the month next following the month during which funds under subsection (a) of this section shall have been received by the Treasurer of State, the Treasurer of State shall allocate the funds in the following manner:

(1) Three percent (3%) of the amount of the funds to the General Revenue Fund Account of the State Apportionment Fund to be used for defraying the necessary expenses of the state government; and

(2) Ninety-seven percent (97%) of the amount of the funds, as follows:

(A) (i) All of such amount of severance taxes, penalties, and costs on timber and timber products shall be credited to the State Forestry Fund until there has been distributed to the State Forestry Fund an amount not less than the total amount of severance taxes, penalties, and costs on timber and timber products distributed to the State Forestry Fund during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1980, plus an additional amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000) of the funds, to be used exclusively for the purpose of carrying out the functions and duties of the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

(ii) (a) The next three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) or so much of the funds as may be collected in severance taxes, penalties, and costs on timber and timber products, over and above the amount distributed to the State Forestry Fund during each fiscal year as provided in subdivision (b)(2)(A)(i) of this section, shall be distributed and credited to the University of Arkansas at Monticello Fund.

(b) The University of Arkansas at Monticello shall transfer from general revenue to cash funds any timber severance tax funds as provided in this subdivision (b)(2)(A)(ii), to be set aside therein to be used solely and exclusively for providing additional support for the School of Forest Resources of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, as per the intent of this subdivision (b)(2)(A)(ii).

(iii) All of such amount of severance taxes, penalties, and costs on timber and timber products collected during each fiscal year in excess of the amounts required to be distributed for each fiscal year as provided in subdivisions (b)(2)(A)(i) and (ii) of this section shall be distributed to the State Forestry Fund to be used exclusively for the support of carrying out the functions and duties of the Arkansas Forestry Commission;

(B) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the amount of the severance taxes and penalties on diamonds shall be credited to the Arkansas State Parks Trust Fund to be used by the State Parks, Recreation, and Travel Commission for the preservation and protection of the natural resources of this state;

(C) Seventy-five percent (75%) of the amount of the severance taxes and penalties, except those on timber and timber products and except those on diamonds, shall be general revenues and shall be allocated to the various State Treasury funds participating in general revenues in the respective proportions to each as provided by and to be used for the respective purposes set forth in the Revenue Stabilization Law, 19-5-101 et seq.; and

(D) (i) Twenty-five percent (25%) of such amount of the severance taxes and penalties, and costs, except those on timber and timber products, shall be special revenues and shall be allocated to the County Aid Fund.

(ii) On or before the tenth of the month following the end of each calendar quarter, the Treasurer of State shall remit by state warrants to the various county treasurers all funds under subdivision (b)(2)(D)(i) of this section then received by him or her during the quarterly period and transferred to the County Aid Fund in the proportions of the funds as between the respective counties that, as certified by the director to the Treasurer of State, the total severance tax produced from each respective county bears to the total of the taxes produced from all counties.

(iii) Upon receipt of any taxes under this subdivision (b)(2)(D), each county treasurer shall credit fifty percent (50%) of the amount to the county public school fund and fifty percent (50%) of the amount to the county highway fund for use for the same purposes as other moneys credited to the respective future funds.

(c) All taxes, penalties, and costs collected by the director on natural gas shall be deposited into the State Treasury as follows:

(1) Five percent (5%) of the funds shall be deposited as general revenues; and

(2) Ninety-five percent (95%) of the funds shall be classified as special revenues and shall be distributed as set forth in the Arkansas Highway Revenue Distribution Law, 27-70-201 et seq.