The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt, a program operated by the Arkansas State Auditor’s office, made a stop in Jonesboro recently, offering an opportunity for residents and businesses to recover unclaimed funds held by the state.
State Auditor Dennis Milligan said his office currently safeguards approximately $60 million in unclaimed property statewide. To assist Arkansans, the office set up a mobile outreach center at the Jonesboro Municipal Center, enabling people to check if the state was holding money on their behalf. During this stop, residents and local businesses claimed a total of about $273,000.
Milligan explained that the funds belong solely to their rightful owners and are held in perpetuity until claimed. "One in four Arkansans are owed money," Milligan stated. "And let me make it very, very clear. It’s their money. It’s not the state’s money. It’s not the government’s money. It’s these Arkansans’ money."
The event provided on-the-spot assistance. Individuals who discovered they were owed money could start the claims process and finalize the arrangement during their visit, according to Milligan. "We will forever, as long as I’m auditor of state, work to return these funds to the rightful owners."
Those who missed the mobile office visit can still check for unclaimed property by visiting the state auditor’s website at claimitar.gov.
The Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt is part of the state’s effort to return unclaimed property such as insurance payments, utility refunds, or other financial assets to individual Arkansans and businesses.