Kentucky Faces Serious Challenges with Next Budget
Lawmakers face a grim financial situation when they meet in January to craft a new budget for 2013 and 2014....
Research
The College Affordability Crunch in Kentucky
A decade of state budget cuts in higher education, rising tuition, underfunded need-based financial aid and stagnating incomes are combining to make college less affordable in Kentucky. Student debt is...
State Has Cut Education Funding Substantially from Pre-Recession Levels
The recession and weak recovery of the last few years have meant less revenue for the state budget, and the legislature has responded with cuts to many services. The state...
State Revenue Growth Should Be Put Into Context
The first of a series of state estimates projects modest revenue growth over the next few years. But increases in revenue should be put into context. The economy is only...
One-Dimensional Reports Overlook Well-Documented Revenue Problem
By ignoring Kentucky's revenue problems, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce's "Leaky Bucket" reports offer a narrow and potentially harmful response to the state budget picture. While smart spending decisions are...
Kentucky Job Numbers Beg for Federal Action
Now that the artificial crisis associated with raising the debt ceiling is over, the country must turn to the big challenge facing it: creating jobs and spurring faster economic growth....
What Will the Debt Ceiling Cuts Mean for Kentucky?
We don’t yet know what cuts Congress will make as a result of the deal made to raise the debt ceiling, and thus what the specific impact on Kentucky will...
2011 Revenue Results a Reminder of Importance of State Income Taxes
The $166 million in state revenues above projections for the fiscal year that just ended are helping prevent additional cuts to critical state services. They are also a reminder of...
Federal Medicaid Cuts Would Harm Kentucky’s Health and Economy
Among the budget options being debated in Washington are cuts in federal support for the Medicaid program. A new report by Families USA finds that in addition to impacting Kentuckians’...
Corporate Taxes Important to Meeting Kentucky’s Needs
Taxes on corporations help pay for needed investments in education, infrastructure and other areas. Yet some legislative leaders have floated the idea of eliminating the corporate income tax. Rather than...