Government

The shaky economy has led to cutbacks in government at all levels, from the federal budget all the way down to the city of Murray. In a meeting this week, Murray Mayor Bill Wells proposed completely gutting various special appropriations from the city’s 2012/13 budget. The drastic step would help fill a half-million dollar gap for next year, caused by increased expenses and declining revenues.  Half a dozen projects receive special appropriation funding, including Murray Main Street. MMS Director Deana Wright says city funding is an important part of their budget.

1st District State Senator Ken Winters finished his last regular session of his legislative career last month. Winters is a lifelong educator and has served as a Dean of the College of Industry and Technology  at Murray State and President of Campbellsville University.   He’s spent 8 years in the Kentucky Senate making significant headway in the commonwealth’s education policy.  He joins Chad Lampe to talk this past session and his legacy in the Kentucky Legislature.

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.