Government

A group of three economists hopes to provide key input to Kentucky's tax commission this summer.

The Blue Ribbon Tax Commission picked three professors to act as consultants as the group considers changes to the state's tax code. Two are from the University of Kentucky and one is from the University of Tennessee.

UK professor William Hoyt will serve as the principal investigator. He says the selection was an honor, and his goal for the group is to produce a slew of options to the commission.

In just over an hour last night, the McCracken County Fiscal Court produced a tentative balanced budget for the next fiscal year. Commissioners met to close an over $170,000 dollar shortfall. They overcame the gap by eliminating the county’s annual financial contribution to EntrePaducah and reducing funds for the county’s new animal shelter.  EntrePaducah is running a $350,000 dollar surplus, and Commissioner Ronnie Freeman says that means the county can cut their $300,000 dollar contribution to zero.