Little Rock, Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has launched a new transparency tool aimed at giving Arkansans a clearer view of how state government is operating, spending, and saving taxpayer money. The Arkansas Forward Dashboard, unveiled on Tuesday, provides a real-time look at progress tied to cost reductions, service improvements, and efficiency efforts across state agencies.
The initiative is part of the broader Arkansas Forward program, which was introduced in 2024. It focuses on identifying waste, improving operations, and generating long-term savings for taxpayers. According to state officials, the program has already identified an estimated $118 million in savings and cost avoidance since its launch.
The dashboard is designed to track progress toward a long-term target of at least $300 million in taxpayer savings and avoided costs by the end of 2030. It will be updated continuously as new efficiency measures are identified and implemented across the executive branch.
Governor Sanders said the goal is to make government performance more visible and easier for the public to understand.
“Arkansans deserve a government that’s accountable for every tax dollar it spends,” said Governor Sanders. “The Arkansas Forward Dashboard gives taxpayers a front-row seat to the progress we’re making to cut waste, improve services, and deliver better results. Transparency is how we continue making Arkansas the best place to live, work, and do business.”
State officials say the dashboard is not just a static report but an interactive resource. It includes a downloadable public dataset that allows residents to explore where savings are happening and how different agencies are performing over time.
Leslie Fisken, Secretary of the Department of Shared Administrative Services, said the effort reflects collaboration across multiple state departments and a shared focus on efficiency.
“Arkansas Forward has been a team effort across the Governor’s 15 cabinet-level departments,” said Department of Shared Administrative Services Secretary Leslie Fisken. “It demonstrates Governor Sanders’ commitment to efficient and accountable government operations. We’re happy to share our results with the people of Arkansas, who, ultimately, benefit from this initiative.”
Since its launch, Arkansas Forward has identified more than 300 separate opportunities to reduce costs or improve services. These efforts span across five key areas of government operations: information technology, procurement, fleet management, personnel, and real estate. Officials say each category plays a role in shaping how efficiently taxpayer dollars are used.
The dashboard aims to make these improvements easier to track by showing ongoing progress in a centralized and publicly accessible format. Instead of waiting for annual reports or summaries, residents can now view updates as changes are implemented.
State leaders also pointed to a recent expansion of the Arkansas Forward initiative. Earlier this year, Governor Sanders signed an executive order designed to streamline government processes and make it easier for businesses and residents to interact with state agencies.
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Under that order, every cabinet-level agency that handles permits, licenses, certifications, or regulatory approvals must review its procedures and identify ways to improve speed and transparency. Agencies have 180 days to submit improvement plans.
Those plans are expected to include steps such as reducing delays in processing, establishing clear timelines for approvals, building centralized online application systems, offering real-time updates on application status, and assigning dedicated points of contact to guide applicants through each process.
Officials say these changes are intended to reduce confusion and make government services more predictable for both individuals and businesses. They also align with the broader goal of improving efficiency while maintaining accountability.
The Arkansas Forward Dashboard and accompanying progress report are now available to the public, offering what state leaders describe as a more direct line of sight into how Arkansas government is evolving.
