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Thompson: Hoping for Increased State Funding for Primary Education, Capital Projects

Kevin Willis

A Daviess County lawmaker believes one of the few bright spots in Tuesday'sbudget address by Governor Beshear could be restored funding for primary education.

Democratic Representative Tommy Thompson told WKU Public Radio he's hoping the governor will announce a boost for the statewide education funding formula known as SEEK, or "Support Education Excellence in Kentucky".

"It's really being funded at the 2009 level," Rep. Thompson said. "And then the strands of education--things like professional development and afterschool services and I.T. Those things have been dramatically cut some 30 to 40 percent over the last four or five years."

Thompson thinks there is also a chance the governor will announce funding for some capital projects around the state.

"Technology buildings, science buildings, education buildings--those types of things that are about reinvesting in communities that not only provide construction jobs, but also provide opportunities for workforce training and skill development," the Philpot Democrat said.

Governor Beshear is scheduled to give his budget address Tuesday at 6 p.m. central/7 eastern in Frankfort.

State Budget Director Jane Driskell has predicted a $370 million gap between revenue and funding requirements in the first year of  the next budget.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.
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