KYA Advocates for More Budget

By Gabe Bullard

Louisville, KY – With a nearly $300 million revenue shortfall looming for the commonwealth, the Kentucky Youth Advocates organization says state government should do all it can to avoid further cuts to the budgets of health and human services programs. KYA Executive Director Terry Brooks says the state should explore new revenue streams or tap into its rainy day fund to help offset the deficit.

If we're really going to avoid hurting families and children in this state, we really can't go the route of tightening belts and pulling bootstraps up any more than we have.

A state budget report says a large chunk of the rainy day fund was committed to balance the previous budget. Governor Steve Beshear says more spending cuts and tax increases may be necessary to deal with the current shortfall. He plans to make a specific budget proposal in early December.