General Assembly Passes Budget Containing 14th Round of Cuts Since 2008
The General Assembly has passed an austere budget that includes further cuts, flat-level funding or modest increases to the education,...
Reports
New Commitment to Need-Based Financial Aid Critical in Context of Rising Tuition
The cost of public higher education in Kentucky has risen by more than 200 percent in the last 15 years, but the state’s financial aid programs have changed very little...
Deep Business Tax Cuts Are Not the Key to a Stronger Kentucky Economy
Governor Beshear’s tax reform proposal includes a substantial amount of new business tax cuts aimed at making the state more competitive. But tax cuts are not the most effective way...
“Single Sales Factor” Would Cost Substantial Revenue Kentucky Needs for Investments that Work
A proposal included in Governor Beshear's tax reform plan that would change the way Kentucky calculates state corporate income taxes for big multistate corporations would wipe out one-third of the...
Governor’s Budget Provides Some Short-Term Help But Needs Revenue to Improve and Sustain
Governor Beshear’s budget is now under consideration in the House. His plan has received praise for putting additional dollars in education, rolling back cuts to child care and identifying new...
Limiting Expensive Income Tax Break for Higher-Income Retirees Is Important Part of Tax Reform
A limit on the state’s large retirement income tax break for higher-income people is an important component of tax reform, and Governor Beshear’s plan includes such a limit. Reforming the...
Tax Plan Misses Opportunity to Make Overall Tax System Fairer
The combined impact of the tax increases and tax cuts in Governor Beshear's reform proposal would not help improve the regressive nature of Kentucky’s tax system, according to analysis of...
Measuring the Tax Plan Against Key Principles
Governor Beshear has released his tax reform proposal, and analysis and debate over the plan has begun. It’s important that this discussion keep in mind three principles that are needed...
Increasing Kentucky’s Minimum Wage Would Help One in Four Workers Make Ends Meet
The decline in the real value of the minimum wage for tipped and non-tipped workers has been contributing to poverty and inequality in Kentucky. Increasing the state’s minimum wage to...
Our Commonwealth: A Primer on the Kentucky State Budget
What is the Budget of the Commonwealth? Where does the money come from and for what does it pay? What are the processes by which the budget is made? The...