As Kentucky lawmakers kick off the inaugural day of the 2014 General Assembly, the scope of the state's dire budgetary situation is coming into focus: Legislators will have to find a way to come up with $3.6 billion to fully fund agency budget requests.
Data from the Office of the State Budget Director shows that budget requests from all three branches of state government as well as state agencies totals over $23 billion for the next two fiscal years.
The state’s general fund, however, is expected to have less than $20 billion in revenue.
The state’s budget director, Jane Driskell, has warned that budget cuts are likely.
Gov. Steve Beshear will submit his budget proposal to lawmakers on Jan. 21.
