Amendment 2 Proponents Misrepresent Education Spending to Tell False Tale About Kentucky Public Schools
An article by the Bluegrass Institute (BIPPS), and a series of follow-ups on individual school districts, tell a grossly inaccurate...
States With Private School Vouchers Have Lower Teacher Pay
If Amendment 2 passes on the ballot this November, it will allow politicians to divert public dollars to private schools. Recent experience in similar states shows that private school voucher...
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...
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...
Legislature Moved Goalposts to Meet Conditions for Tax Cuts Whose Bill Is Now Coming Due
The conditions have been met for the General Assembly to potentially cut the individual income tax rate from 4% to 3.5% beginning Jan. 1, 2026, the State Budget Director announced...
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...
The Income Tax Was Never Going to Be Eliminated. But Admitting So Matters.
An important shift may have happened last month when the Kentucky House Speaker said the General Assembly will not be eliminating the state's individual income tax after all, as reported...
In Jefferson County, Privatizing School Funding Is About Undermining Democracy
This November, Kentuckians will vote on whether to change our state constitution to allow public dollars to go to private schools. We don’t have to guess what will happen if...
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...
Senate Budget Includes Much More Infrastructure Spending, Remains Austere When It Comes to Other Needs
The Senate has proposed a budget that spends significant dollars out of the Budget Reserve Trust Fund (BRTF), primarily on infrastructure projects, much more than the House proposed. However, the...