EKB News

KENTUCKY....
As the new fiscal year began Thursday, the state is looking for an additional $35 million in savings to help balance the two-year, $17 billion budget that lawmakers approved in late May. State Budget Director Mary Lassiter sent letters to most agency heads asking them to plan for an additional 1.5 percent cut on top of the 3.5 percent cut most agencies took at the beginning of the fiscal year. Agency heads have until July 15th to return those plans. Some programs exempt from the additional 1.5 percent cut include the main funding formula for schools, most of the Department of Corrections and Medicaid. The $35 million cut is part of the $131 million in savings mandated by the legislature. Governor Beshear is looking at statewide solutions to make up the additional $96 million in savings.