Making good on his pledge to reinvest in K-12 education, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear's biennial budget would restore public education funding to 2008 levels, with a pledge of $189 million in a budget greater than $20 billion.
But Beshear said his budget was was made possible in large part by a 5 percent cut across many state agencies.
"Two weeks ago," Beshear began on Tuesday evening, "I stood here and signaled my intent in clear and decisive words: 'I am determined to find money to reinvest in education,' I said then, 'Even if I have to make harmful cuts in other areas to do so.' Well, that's precisely what this two-year budget proposal does: It makes damaging cuts in many areas in order to keep Kentucky at the forefront of educational attainment in this nation."
Beshear said restoring SEEK formula for primary and high school education funding was among his top priories in crafting the 2014-2016 budget, which will also seek to invest $100 million in broadband Internet access in Eastern Kentucky, and set aside bond revenue for construction projects for Kentucky Community and Technical College System schools.
The Cuts
Since taking office, Beshear has reduced state services by a cumulative 41 percent, for a total of $1.6 billion in cuts over the last six years. The additional cuts would likely have an effect on employee attrition, prompting layoffs, service delays and facility closures.