Acting Transportation Cabinet head sees no need for new Road Fund formula after weathering nine-figure shortfall

by Kevin Wheatley – FRANKFORT — Faced with declining revenues in the state’s Road Fund due in part to low gas prices, officials with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said Tuesday that the fund will make minimal progress in the biennium after a $112.5 million shortfall was resolved in the current fiscal year. But after the General Assembly passed…

State Rep. Lynn Bechler Explains Reason for Sole Dissenting Vote on Bullying Bill

by PARKER FRANKLIN –  The lone dissenter of a Kentucky bill that would establish a statewide definition of bullying says the legislation is too broad. Kentucky’s State House passed HB 316 last week. Under that bill, school boards across the commonwealth would be required to institute anti-bullying rules along with procedures to investigate bullying reports. Advocate Susan Guess, who…

Travel industry study says August school days cost Kentucky $432 million

by Valarie Honeycutt Spears, [email protected] – Kentucky travel industry officials have released a study that contends the early return to school each year is costing the state millions of dollars and thousands of jobs. The travel industry commissioned the study to support a bill that would prevent school districts from starting classes before late August. Many districts return to…

Legislative Budget Committee Leaders Say Kentucky’s Pension Shortfall Could Boost Interest in Tax Reform

by Stu Johnson, WEKU NEWS –  Discussions about Kentucky tax reform have circulated around the state capitol for decades but no comprehensive tax measure has passed. Two state lawmakers say major pension shortfalls could help move the issue along. Governor Matt Bevin says his proposed spending cuts across state government aim to deal with the more than $30…

GOP holds financial advantages in special House elections less than a month before voters hit the polls

by Kevin Wheatley – Republicans in three of four special House elections hold a collective 3-to-1 cash advantage on their Democratic opponents, with pro-GOP groups enjoying a $872,377 edge on their counterparts across the aisle with the March 8 contests upcoming, campaign finance filings show. The cash disparity comes less than a month until voters in Scott, Owen, Fayette,…