The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission is keeping its Springdale office open and closing Fort Smith to help fill a budget gap.
The Fort Smith office will close by July 1, 2014.
A memo sent by D. Alan McClain, commission chief executive officer, to the full commission earlier today stated the decision took into consideration input from staff at both offices, communication received by the commission and the governor's office and cost analysis.
The office closure is the first step the commission is taking to deal with $135 million in unfunded liabilities it its Death and Permanent Disability Trust Fund.