Mary Lassiter

Lawmakers Ready for Tax Reform Legislation, but Bill Unlikely This Session

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:47:46 +0000

Kentucky lawmakers seemed eager to dig into another tax reform bill this year, but the chair of the latest tax reform commission says reform isn't likely coming soon.

Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson—who chaired the commission—and Mary Lassiter, the secretary of the cabinet, addressed lawmakers on the budget committees about the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Tax Commission.

Kentucky Reports Increased Tax Revenue

The Associated Press — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 19:24:06 +0000

Kentucky’s General Fund receipts increased by more than 5 percent in September, thanks in part to a big increase in corporate income tax revenue. Those receipts increased by more than 26 percent. Lottery and individual income tax receipts also rose by more than 8 percent. State Budget Director Mary Lassiter says those increases helped offset losses in property, cigarette, and coal severance tax revenues. She says the coal revenue fell about 19 percent due to a downturn in the state’s mining industry.

Flat Growth in State Budget Causing Some Concerns

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:14:23 +0000

State budget officials say they are paying close attention to revenue as the state budget sees a flat growth at the start of the fiscal year.

Budget director Mary Lassiter says in her monthly briefing that August revenues ticked up, helping make up 2 percent of losses in July. But that leaves revenues flat, while forecasters had expected an almost 3 percent growth this year.

Lassiter says while warning alarms aren't going off yet, steady declines in income and sales taxes is giving her office causes for concern.

Kentucky General Fund Receipts Fall

Associated Press — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:43:00 +0000

Kentucky officials say General Fund receipts fell about $17 million dollars, or 2 and a third percent in May from figures a year ago.

Beshear Offers Staff to Help Draft Kentucky Road Plan

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:05:39 +0000

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is urging lawmakers to finish their work on a transportation budget and six-year road plan on the final day of this year's legislative session. Beshear says the Kentucky's roads and bridges are the state's economic lifeblood, and not passing legislation to ensure their continued maintenance would do more than threaten public safety. With time running out, lawmakers haven't yet reached agreement on what road construction projects to fund in the next two-year budget cycle or in an overall six-year plan. Beshear says he wi