Budget’s Good News Not Enough for What Ails Kentucky
For a person who is chronically ill, a day of less pain provides welcome comfort but no promise of returning...
Budget & Tax
Expanded Federal Earned Income Tax Credit Would Be Big Benefit to Kentucky Workers
The President’s budget for 2015 includes several important improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC) that, taken together, would help low-wage Kentucky workers and...
Budget Cuts Threaten Kentucky’s Ability to Sustain and Grow Progress in Adult Education
Each year Kentucky Adult Education (KYAE) helps thousands of Kentuckians across the state prepare to take the GED, improve literacy and increase English as a second language skills. These services...
Fund Transfers Can Harm Needed Programs and Result in Higher Costs
With deep budget shortfalls and very modest revenue growth predicted in the coming biennium, the Governor has put forward $371 million in fund transfers as a way to help balance...
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...