LITTLE ROCK, Ar., (KNOE 8 News) - Arkansas' struggle with problems in its Forestry Commission continues, but the state senate has voted to use some $2.6 million from the state surplus to keep the commission afloat.
The Senate voted unanimously to use the money to keep the Forestry Commission operating, and to repay money the commission improperly used from the feds when it got into financial trouble.
Last year, the commission laid off more than 30 employees when it was looking at a $4 million budget shortfall...and State Forester John Shannon resigned earlier this month after an audit criticized him and accused the commission of improperly borrowing more than 6.4 million dollars all told from federal grants in order to make payroll.
The Arkansas House will now take up the bill to bail out the commission.
