Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Beshear Presents Budget Proposal
KENTUCKY....
Governor Steve Beshear unveiled his proposed two-year budget Tuesday afternoon calling on lawmakers to approve gambling legislation he says could generate $780 million for state government over a two year period. Anti-gambling advocates, including Say No To Casinos, quickly objected to the proposal. Previously, leaders of both chambers have said they believe it lacks the support necessary to pass.
Statewide, Beshear wants to spend $150 million for new K-12 school buildings, $300 million for roads and another $112 million for road work in the Ft. Knox area. He proposed spending an extra $173 million to cover increased costs in the state's health insurance program for current employees and pledged to increase payments to the Kentucky Retirement Systems by $92 million, as lawmakers promised in 2008. The budget includes an additional $782 million for Medicaid.
The budget proposal would spare most public safety agencies from cuts, including Kentucky State Police, prosecutors, public defenders and much of the prison system.
However, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the administrative offices of the Corrections Department and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet would be among those agencies slated for a 2 percent cut in fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1.
Governor Steve Beshear unveiled his proposed two-year budget Tuesday afternoon calling on lawmakers to approve gambling legislation he says could generate $780 million for state government over a two year period. Anti-gambling advocates, including Say No To Casinos, quickly objected to the proposal. Previously, leaders of both chambers have said they believe it lacks the support necessary to pass.
Statewide, Beshear wants to spend $150 million for new K-12 school buildings, $300 million for roads and another $112 million for road work in the Ft. Knox area. He proposed spending an extra $173 million to cover increased costs in the state's health insurance program for current employees and pledged to increase payments to the Kentucky Retirement Systems by $92 million, as lawmakers promised in 2008. The budget includes an additional $782 million for Medicaid.
The budget proposal would spare most public safety agencies from cuts, including Kentucky State Police, prosecutors, public defenders and much of the prison system.
However, the Department of Juvenile Justice and the administrative offices of the Corrections Department and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet would be among those agencies slated for a 2 percent cut in fiscal year 2011, which begins July 1.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 10:09 PM 
