Urban Growth in Kentucky Continued in 2018
Recently released population estimates from the Census document how much Kentucky has continued to urbanize over the last eight years. Rural eastern...
Analysis
Kentucky’s Gains in Health Coverage Are Resilient Despite Sustained Attacks on Public Insurance
New Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE) were released by the Census this month for 2017, showing a continued increase in health coverage among adults under age 65 since Kentucky...
2019 Session Tax Round Up – More Special Interest Tax Cuts Means Less To Invest
The Kentucky General Assembly ended the 2019 session with the passage of a pair of so-called tax "clean up” bills that make Kentucky’s precarious revenue situation worse. The first bill,...
Senate Pension Bill Also Breaks Inviolable Contract
When the governor vetoed House Bill 358, the legislation affecting pension costs for quasi-governmental organizations like community mental health centers and regional universities, his primary stated objection was that it...
Pension Bill for Quasis Jeopardizes Workers and Retirees, Increases State Costs Without Way to Pay
The pension bill that passed the General Assembly last week, House Bill 358, reduces retirement security for future employees and jeopardizes pensions for thousands of current workers and retirees at...
Expungement Bill Is a Highlight, But Deeper Commitment to Criminal Justice Reform Missing from Session
Overall the criminal justice bills that passed in the 2019 General Assembly will not move Kentucky forward in addressing its growing inmate population. At the same time the state legislature...
Bank Tax Break Passed This Session Was Not What Proponents Claimed
One of the surprise provisions included in HB 354 - the tax clean-up bill that morphed into a tax giveaway bill – is a $56 million tax cut for banks....
Breaking Inviolable Contract for Quasi-Governmental Employees Would Result in Massive Loss of Benefits
Pension proposals for quasi-governmental organizations that attempt to break the inviolable contract for current employees will result in a huge loss of retirement income for those affected, with career employees...
Conference Committee Agrees to Substantial New Tax Breaks in the “Tax Clean-Up Bill” – Digging Our Revenue Hole Even Deeper
The 2019 short session is in its final days and House Bill 354 (HB 354) - the “tax clean-up” bill, the original purpose of which was specifically to address unintended...
Pension Bill Breaks Inviolable Contract, Shifts Contributions from Underfunded Plan
The Senate version of House Bill 358 essentially forces quasi-governmental agencies like health departments and community mental health centers to break the inviolable contract for pensions with their current employees...