Vast Inequality in Wealth Means Poor School Districts Are Less Able to Rely on Local Property Taxes
The cuts in state and federal funding for education are hitting Kentucky's school districts hard, and many are raising local...
Tax and Budget
Presentation: Kentucky’s Budget Outlook
Kentucky lawmakers will begin assembling what Speaker Greg Stumbo recently called a "destructive" two-year state budget when it reconvenes in January. Current projections suggest the weakest revenue growth since the...
State Must Begin Meeting Responsibility to Teachers’ Retirement or Pay More Later
The state has not been making full required contributions to Kentucky teachers' retirement since 2009, and the impact of not making those payments has a compounding effect—meaning more costs for...
Testimony: Local Option Sales Tax
Interim Joint Committee on Local Government Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Jason Bailey and I am director of the Kentucky Center for...
Presentation: The Coal Severance Tax in Appalachian Kentucky
Diversifying the economy of Appalachian Kentucky will require financial resources to pay for needed new investments. The coal severance tax is one of the largest pools of economic development resources...
Sharp Decline in Coal Severance Tax Revenue Underscores Need for Economic Plan
New data showing that eastern Kentucky lost 4,000 coal jobs last year should raise alarm among public officials about the longstanding need for an economic transition plan. So should the...
Proposed Cash Balance Pension Plan for New Workers Projected to Increase Costs
The cash balance plan for new workers proposed in Senate Bill 2 would make paying Kentucky’s unfunded pension liability harder by adding approximately $55 million in state costs over the...
Four Key Facts about Public Pensions in Kentucky
As Kentucky legislators consider changes that could cut pension benefits for nurses, social workers, police officers and other public sector workers, they should keep in mind four important facts. Public...
Fact Sheet: College Affordability in Kentucky
Progress in higher education is essential to building a strong economy, an informed citizenry, and a higher quality of life. However, the cost of higher education is a growing challenge...
Another Corporate Tax Cut Is Not the Answer
A proposal to change the way Kentucky calculates corporate income taxes for big multistate corporations would be a costly experiment that’s just as likely to harm the state’s economy as...