A state budget is closer to becoming law after being passed by the Kentucky House of Representatives Thursday afternoon. Representatives Myron Dossett, Walker Thomas, Lynn Bechler, Kenny Imes and Jason Petrie voted for the budget that passed 76 to 15.
The $22.5 billion dollar spending plan will shore up funding for public education and public safety, while ensuring Kentucky meets the obligation to fund the state employees’ and teachers’ retirement systems.
Under the spending plan most state agencies will take a 6.25 percent baseline cut from their budgets in the bienium that were recomended by Governor Matt Bevin. The budget will increase funding for the Kentucky Retirement System by $774.5 million and the Kentucky Teacher Retirement System by $89.1 million to meet the full actuarial required contribution for state employee and teacher pensions.
The budget also boost base per-pupil funding for K-12 education and increases the school transportation funding.
Representative Lynn Bechler held his no new tax pledge when he voted against the funding portion of the budget, House Bill 366. That bill includes a 50 cent per pack cigarette tax increase beginning in July and 25 cent per dose fee on opioids at the distribution level. Both tax increases are expected to bring in an additional $377 million over the two-year budget cycle. Other changes will bring in an additional 123 million dollars during the next two years, which will amount to more than $500 million in additional revenue. Representatives Walker Thomas, Myron Dossett, Kenny Imes and Jason Petrie voted in favor of House Bill 366.
The budget now heads to the Kentucky Senate.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI