Budget deal will cause more cuts

KSN&C is hearing about cuts to some agencies, like CPE, in the 8.4% neighborhood. Less for K-12 education, and that, outside of the SEEK base. Those university presidents, like EKU's Doug Whitlock, who held back 4% from the current budget cycle are starting to look like geniuses.

This from Pat Crowley at the Enquirer:

Gov. Steve Beshear called Kentucky lawmakers to Frankfort last month to deal with a $1 billion budget deficit. But while plugging the budget hole, lawmakers also increased state spending, which the governor says will force deeper cuts.

Beshear said a combination of tax incentives and spending increases approved by the General Assembly will add nearly $60 million a year to the budget. Most of the deficit was plugged with nearly $800 million in federal stimulus money.

"Those decisions today will have profound consequences tomorrow," Beshear said after the session's end. "And there should be no doubt of that among everyone involved in crafting this budget revision." ...

On Tuesday in Frankfort Beshear said that he will be able to determine what can be cut from the state budget to pay for the new spending by mid-July. Most public school funding, corrections and Medicaid are off the table, he said...