Federal Investments Are Funding Improvements and Creating Jobs in Nearly All Kentucky Counties
Two recent federal industrial policies, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), have led to significant...
For the Same Cost as Vouchers, Kentucky Could Meaningfully Reinvest in Public Education
Amendment 2 on the ballot in November would open the door wide for private school voucher programs in Kentucky. On the low end, a targeted voucher program could cost a...
New Census Data Shows More Is Needed to Cut Poverty and Improve Incomes
New Census data for 2023 shows that pandemic-era policies made a big difference in reducing poverty and increasing health care coverage rates for children in Kentucky. But those supports have...
Affordable Care Act Has Helped Make Insurance Affordable for a Decade, but Will Get More Expensive if Congress Doesn’t Act
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created several new opportunities for health coverage in Kentucky that began in 2014, including a marketplace where Kentuckians with low wages can receive subsidized insurance...
The State of Working Kentucky 2024
The state of working Kentucky in 2024 includes good news on jobs but within the context of longstanding economic challenges and persistent pressures on household budgets. A rapid economic recovery...
Every Year Kentucky Intercepts Millions in Child Support Payments Owed to Low-Income Kids and Sends Most to Washington D.C.
The state’s basic cash assistance program, the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP), provides critical support for families with young children to meet basic needs like rent, utilities, toiletries and school...
Kentucky School Districts Brace for Expiration of Federal Funds That Sustained Schools for Several Years
As kids head back to the classroom in Kentucky this month, school districts are bracing for the loss of billions of dollars in vital federal funding that has greatly benefitted...
The Impact of Diverting Public Money to Private School Vouchers in Kentucky
This November, Kentuckians will vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would permit the General Assembly to spend public money on private schools. [efn_note]House Bill 2, 2024 Regular...
Budget Agreement Maintains Modest Spending for Education and Other Needs Despite Funds Available to Do More
The final budget agreement spends significant dollars out of the Budget Reserve Trust Fund (BRTF) primarily on infrastructure and very specific local projects. However, it remains largely austere when it...
Final State Budget Should Do More for Child Care to Protect Families and Jobs
The recently released Senate budget proposal includes $39 million in new spending on child care in 2025 and $50 million in 2026. This amount is more new state spending for...