*Photo above taken by Bill Pugliano of Getty Images of teachers and public employees protesting budget and pension cuts during 2018 session

The recently passed state budget presents tough choices for schools, universities, libraries, state agencies and other public entities. Rather than reinvesting in these vital programs, the legislature chose to continue a decade of cuts — all while cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthiest and paying for it by asking more of low and middle income Kentuckians. Instead of cleaning up the tax code to raise adequate, fair and sustainable revenue, the legislature passed a tax shift with no public input or economic impact analysis that will put Kentucky in danger of following down the path of Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and more. We’re already seeing the impacts of the budget cuts – we will post links below that explain cuts to programs across the Commonwealth as agencies make decisions on how to deal with continued budget cuts.

• KET eliminating distance learning program as one way of addressing budget cuts

• WKU details second round of budget cuts

• Fayette school budget cut picture worsens after more revenue cuts

• University of Louisville considers raising tuition by 4 percent next fiscal year

• School districts contend with state budget cuts