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...
Analysis
Diverting Lottery Revenues Makes College Less Affordable For Those Who Need It Most
The state is increasingly diverting lottery revenues from financial aid programs to help shore up the budget, as described in a Lexington Herald-Leader story today. Those dollars are coming from...
Top 1 Percent of Kentuckians Captured Nearly Half of State Income Growth over Last Few Decades
The top 1 percent of earners in Kentucky took home 48.8 percent of state income gains from 1979 to 2007—a share in line with the national average of 53.9 percent—according...
How Governor’s Tax Plan Differs from Tax Commission’s Recommendations
Many of the proposals in Governor Beshear’s tax plan come from his Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform. But his plan is also different—it leaves measures out that were included...
State EITC Would Help Working Kentuckians Afford Necessities
A state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is included in Governor Beshear’s tax proposal, would help several hundred thousand of Kentucky’s low- and moderate-income working families make ends meet—among...
Increase in Tipped Minimum Wage Is Long Overdue
Stagnant or falling real wages for many Kentucky workers threatens their standard of living and is leading to growing income inequality. One of the causes of inadequate wages is the...
Statement on Governor Beshear’s State of the Commonwealth Address
KCEP Director Jason Bailey released the following statement on Governor Beshear's State of the Commonwealth address: "Governor Beshear rightly focused his speech on the need for more resources to help...
Official Revenue Estimate for Next Budget Slightly Worse than Weak October Forecast
The group of economists charged with predicting how much revenue Kentucky will have in the coming budget cycle approved a very modest revenue forecast for the next budget that’s slightly...
New Report Shows Continued Higher Education Gaps for Disadvantaged Students Alongside Funding Cuts
The state’s most recent accountability report for higher education—released this week—shows some progress in many areas but big challenges in college affordability and in addressing postsecondary degree attainment gaps for...
Cut-off in Unemployment Benefits Would Hurt Thousands of Kentuckians and the Economy
53,000 long-term unemployed Kentuckians will lose crucial income support in the next year if Congress does not reauthorize Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), according to a recent report by the Center...