Aspects of Heroin Bills Would Increase State Costs But Have Little Expected Impact on Crime
Amid Kentucky’s heroin crisis, a number of bills have been filed for the 2015 legislative session to address the problem....
Budget & Tax
Kentucky’s Upside Down Tax System Asks the Least of Those at the Top
In Kentucky, the wealthiest residents pay the lowest overall state and local tax rate as documented in a new edition of a study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic...
Gas Tax Formula Needs Change to Protect Investments in Infrastructure
A drop in the price of gasoline means that, come January, Kentuckians will also pay 4.3 cents less per gallon in gas taxes. But while many drivers won’t even notice...
Despite Exemptions, Kentucky’s Sales Tax is Still Regressive
Some proponents of a local option sales tax are making the claim that the regressive nature of the sales tax is taken care of in Kentucky because the state exempts groceries...
Refinancing KTRS Debt a Sensible Step Toward Addressing Budget Challenge
Because of the recession and subsequent shortfalls in the state’s annual contributions to the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System (KTRS), the system’s liability is growing and the problem is becoming more...
Is Another Budget Shortfall in the Works?
One-third of the way through the budget calendar, the state is on track for a revenue shortfall if growth doesn't pick up for the remainder of the year. According to a...
What’s So Dangerous About Cutting Income Tax Rates
When talk turns to state tax reform, some make the claim that Kentucky’s income tax rates are an impediment to growth and need to be reduced. But there’s nothing more...
S&P Report Says Growing Inequality Harming State Budgets, Especially in States More Dependent on Sales Taxes
A new report from the credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) says that growing income inequality is making it harder for states to generate the revenue needed to fund education and...
Two Pillars of Making Work Pay: Minimum Wage Increase and a State Earned Income Tax Credit
Increasing the state minimum wage and instituting a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and are two policies that complement each other and can help working families better make ends...
Congressional Vote on Internet Tax Loopholes Could Help or Harm Kentucky’s Budget
The Senate is expected to vote soon on continuing a moratorium on state and local taxes of Internet access, and the specifics of what passes could mean hundreds of millions...