An Arkansas public official bond is a surety bond that guarantees an elected or appointed officer will faithfully perform the duties of the office and account for the public funds that pass through it. There is no single statewide bond amount. The required amount is set office by office under Arkansas law, and for county and township officers it is fixed each year by the county quorum court using a formula tied to the money the office handles (Ark. Code 14-14-1201). Because the amount depends on the office and the funds involved, the figure on your bond is specific to your position, not a flat statewide number.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who requires it | The State of Arkansas or the county or municipality the officer serves, acting through the statute that governs that office |
| Governing law | Ark. Code 21-2-107 (state, county, and district officers generally); Ark. Code 14-14-1201 (county and township officers and employees); Ark. Code 19-1-403 (county and municipal officials and employees) |
| Official form | No single statewide form. The bond form is typically supplied by the office, the county, or the surety [VERIFY against Ark. Code 21-2-107 and the county clerk: whether a specific bond form is prescribed for a given office] |
| Bond amount | Set per office by the governing statute or body, not one statewide figure. For county and township officers the amount is fixed annually by quorum court ordinance based on the prior year’s cash receipts and disbursements, subject to a statutory computation formula and a $500,000 cap per officer (Ark. Code 14-14-1201) |
| Premium basis | A percentage of the bond amount, based mainly on credit. The premium may be paid from the public treasury at the discretion of the Governor, county judge, mayor, or board (Ark. Code 21-2-107) [CLIENT FLAG: confirm pricing] |
| Coverage term | Typically one year, renewed for the term of office [VERIFY against the governing statute and obligee for the specific office] |
| Obligee | The State of Arkansas, or the county or municipality the officer serves |
How much is the bond, and how is the amount set?
There is no single Arkansas public official bond amount. Each office is bonded in the amount fixed by the law or governing body that requires the bond, so the correct figure depends on which office you hold.
For county and township officers and employees who receipt for or disburse public funds, Ark. Code 14-14-1201 sets the mechanism. The county quorum court fixes the bond amount each year by ordinance, based on the total cash receipts and disbursements of the office for the preceding calendar year. The statute sets minimum amounts using a tiered formula on the office’s receipts:
| Portion of annual receipts | Minimum bond percentage |
|---|---|
| First $100,000 | 10% |
| Next $200,000 | 7.5% |
| Next $200,000 | 5% |
| Next $500,000 | 2.5% |
| Amount over $1,000,000 | 1% |
Under Ark. Code 14-14-1201, the bond amount for any single county or township officer or employee is capped at $500,000. [VERIFY against Ark. Code 14-14-1201: the exact tier percentages, the $1,000,000 threshold, and the $500,000 cap, confirmed against the statute text.]
State, district, and municipal offices are handled by their own governing statutes and bodies rather than by this county formula. The amount for those positions is set by the specific law that governs the office. [VERIFY against Ark. Code 21-2-107 and the statute governing the specific state or district office: how the amount is fixed and by whom.]
What does the bond cover?
The bond is a faithful-performance and public-funds guarantee. Under Ark. Code 14-14-1201, the bond is conditioned that the officer will perform all official duties required by law and will account for, pay over, and deliver all money and other property that comes into the officer’s hands. Ark. Code 19-1-403 states the same idea for county and municipal officials and employees: the bond is conditioned that the officer or employee will faithfully perform the duties of the office or employment and properly account for all cash funds received and disbursed.
In plain terms, if the officer fails to perform the duties of the office or fails to account for public funds, a valid claim can be paid on the bond up to the bond amount, and the officer (the principal) is responsible for repaying the surety.
Note on the state Self-Insured Fidelity Bond Program: Arkansas runs a state-administered blanket dishonesty bond through the Arkansas Governmental Bonding Board, covering participating state, county, municipal, and school district entities against fraudulent and dishonest acts (Ark. Code 21-2-701 et seq.; Arkansas Insurance Department, Fidelity Bond Program). That program covers dishonesty, which is not the same as faithful performance, and participation is by the governmental entity. Whether you still need a commercial public official bond depends on your office’s governing statute and whether your entity participates in the state program. [VERIFY against Ark. Code 21-2-703 and the Arkansas Insurance Department Fidelity Bond Program: whether the state program displaces the full official bond for a given office or only the dishonesty portion, and how participation affects the requirement.]
How much does the bond cost?
You do not pay the full bond amount. You pay a premium, which is a percentage of the bond’s face value, set mainly by your personal credit and the size of the bond. One point specific to public official bonds: Ark. Code 21-2-107 allows the public treasury to pay the premium. The Governor, a county judge, mayor, or governing board may, at their discretion, order that the state, county, city, town, or district treasury pay the premium on the officer’s surety bond.
[CLIENT FLAG: insert typical premium ranges by credit tier and one real worked example, for example “a $50,000 public official bond at X percent costs $Y per year.” We do not publish pricing figures without your confirmation.]
Is this the same as a notary bond or a license bond?
No. These are different bonds for different roles.
- A public official bond guarantees that an elected or appointed officer will faithfully perform the duties of a public office and account for public funds. The obligee is the government the officer serves.
- A notary bond is required of a commissioned notary public and protects the public against errors or misconduct in performing notarial acts. It is not an office-holder’s faithful-performance bond.
- A license or permit bond guarantees that a licensed business or professional follows the law that governs its license, such as a motor vehicle dealer or an auctioneer. The obligee is the licensing agency, not the office itself.
If you are unsure which bond your role requires, the requirement traces back to the specific statute or agency behind it. We can help you identify the right one.
How do I get bonded and file the bond?
- Confirm the exact bond your office requires, including the amount, from the governing statute or body. For county and township officers, the amount is the figure set by your county quorum court’s annual ordinance under Ark. Code 14-14-1201.
- Apply through All n One with your office, the required amount, and your details.
- Get a quote based on the bond amount and your credit.
- Review and sign the bond. It must be written by a surety company authorized to do business in Arkansas (Ark. Code 21-2-107).
- File the executed bond as required. For county and township officers, the original is filed with the county clerk (Ark. Code 14-14-1201). State officer bonds are filed with the Secretary of State, with a copy to the Auditor of State (Ark. Code 21-2-107). [VERIFY against Ark. Code 21-2-107 and the county clerk: the exact filing office for the specific office being bonded.]
- Keep the bond active and renew it for the term of the office.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs an Arkansas public official bond?
Elected and appointed state, county, district, and municipal officers who are required by law to furnish a bond, especially those who receipt for or disburse public funds. The requirement comes from the statute that governs the specific office.
What is the bond amount for my office?
There is no single statewide amount. For county and township officers, the amount is fixed each year by the county quorum court by ordinance, based on the prior year’s cash receipts and disbursements, subject to the statutory formula and a $500,000 cap per officer (Ark. Code 14-14-1201). Other offices are set by their own governing statutes.
What does the bond guarantee?
That the officer will faithfully perform the duties of the office and account for and pay over all public funds and property that pass through the office (Ark. Code 14-14-1201; Ark. Code 19-1-403).
Who is the obligee?
The State of Arkansas, or the county or municipality the officer serves, depending on the office.
Do I have to pay for the bond myself?
Not necessarily. Ark. Code 21-2-107 allows the Governor, county judge, mayor, or governing board to order that the public treasury pay the premium on the officer’s surety bond. Your governing body decides this.
Isn’t the state fidelity bond program enough?
The state Self-Insured Fidelity Bond Program is a blanket dishonesty bond for participating government entities and covers fraudulent or dishonest acts, which is not the same as a faithful-performance official bond. Whether you still need a commercial public official bond depends on your office’s governing statute and your entity’s participation (Ark. Code 21-2-701 et seq.; Arkansas Insurance Department, Fidelity Bond Program).
Where do I file the bond?
For county and township officers, the original is filed with the county clerk (Ark. Code 14-14-1201). State officer bonds are filed with the Secretary of State, with a copy to the Auditor of State (Ark. Code 21-2-107).
How long does the bond last?
Public official bonds are typically written for a one-year term and renewed for the term of the office. Confirm the term required for your specific office.
