[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]With the state capitol under restricted access due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Senate Appropriations & Revenue Committee yesterday passed their version of the state\u2019s spending plan for the next two years. This is step three of the process of crafting the state budget.\u00a0 Once the full Senate adopts this version, the measure will likely move to a conference committee of House and Senate leaders to resolve any differences. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is almost certainly to reframe the final biennial budget. Legislative leaders have stated a request for a new revenue estimate has been made from the Consensus Forecasting Group \u2013 the panel of economists charged with estimating revenue for the next two years.<\/p>\n
Major elements of the Senate\u2019s committee proposal include:<\/p>\n
Much of this is positive, and after many years of budget reductions in critical areas of education, stable and even modest increases are a welcome sight. \u00a0But this sentiment is obviously tempered by the on-going health crisis related to the COVID-19\u00a0 pandemic \u2013 the impacts of which on the economy are sure to be significant. Concerns remained before recent events about the lack of new revenue to sustain the scale of investments (see our Big bold Ask<\/a>) necessary to ensure education excellence in Kentucky – from early childhood through postsecondary. \u00a0These concerns are now amplified and will certainly be difficult to bear without substantial financial relief from the federal government.<\/p>\n Following is our high-level analysis relative to our Big Bold Ask<\/a>.\u00a0 See our earlier posts for analysis of the Governor\u2019s<\/a> and House\u2019s<\/a> proposals.<\/p>\n Early Childhood<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Achieving high-quality early learning opportunities for all children requires additional investment. This is critical when almost 50 percent of our children enter kindergarten not ready to learn, and 50% of Kentucky families live in a childcare desert and quality childcare is either non-existent or unaffordable for working parents. The Senate’s committee proposal does not make progress on these investments, essentially holding them at current levels with a reduction in preschool partnership grants.<\/p>\n A critical concern is a $2 million cut in tobacco settlement dollars to the HANDS early home visiting program.\u00a0 HANDS provides critical supports to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes, promote healthy child development, build safe homes, and increase families\u2019 self-sufficiency.\u00a0 While we understand this reduction may be off-set through the use of other funds, neither the Governor, nor the House\u2019s proposal, nor the Senate\u2019s committee proposal has made that clear.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> for a detailed analysis of the early childhood items in the senate proposal.<\/p>\n K-12<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n To deliver excellence for each and every Kentucky child in our public school, Kentucky must restore investments after long years of cuts and lost buying power.\u00a0 The Senate\u2019s committee proposal begins this process by providing some strategic investment \u2013 an increase in the base SEEK per-pupil guarantee from $4,000 currently to $4,161 in each year, as well as notable increases to hire additional school mental health professionals.\u00a0 Recognizing these investments as positive progress, Kentucky still needs deeper investment to support teaching and learning at the local level.<\/p>\n Some additional items to note in the Senate\u2019s committee proposal are worth noting as they could provide support for the teaching and learning environment.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a>\u00a0for a detailed analysis of the K-12 items in the senate proposal.<\/p>\n Postsecondary Education<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Kentucky\u2019s Council on Postsecondary Education has set an attainment goal of 60% by 2030, while economic projections suggest that the supply of workers with postsecondary education continues to fall short of the demand for an educated workforce. To reach our goals, we must break down barriers to college access, ensure higher education is affordable, and support student success.\u00a0 The Senate\u2019s committee proposal is a bright spot in the budget – stemming the cycle of funding reductions to our colleges and universities \u2013 33% since 2008 – and increases funds for student financial aid.<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n