Send Four Arkansas cities and their surrounding areas face demotion and possible economic repercussions if a proposed statistical change is adopted by the federal Office of Management & Budget. The OMB received the recommendation from a study committee to double the core population required for designation as a metropolitan statistical area from 50,000 to 100,000. The recommendation was publicized in January just before President Joe Biden’s inauguration and a public comment period ended in mid-March. If the population threshold is changed, current Arkansas MSAs that are based around Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Texarkana would be redesignated as micropolitan statistical areas. While the Jonesboro and Texarkana MSAs have total populations of more than 100,000, the designation requires a core urban area — usually a single city — to be over the minimum threshold, currently at 50,000.