KEJA -- Tax, Budget, & Good Government Resources

Information on Taxes, Tax Reform, Budget Issues, Good Government Policies & Initiatives

KEJA & Partner Reports:

Raising The Bar: Kentucky's Real Budget Report
This KEJA report released 12/15/05 highlights the need for Kentucky to invest almost $2 billion a year in new revenue to adequately support public schools, higher education, health care, criminal justice and other crucial state programs. In its analysis of key state budget areas, the report finds that chronic under-funding of programs that increase state competitiveness and benefit quality of life is leading to a Kentucky that at best is standing still, and at worst is falling further and further behind the rest of the nation.

Accounting for Impact: Economic Development Spending in Kentucky. Produced by MACED, this report is an analysis of how much money the state spends on economic development activities and what we get in return.

With Good Government & Tax Justice, Imagine What Kentucky Can Be
This booklet outlines the need for comprehensive tax reform that makes Kentucky's tax system fair, adequate, and up-to-date. It explains KEJA's proposal for comprehensive tax reform. And it highlights where Kentucky should start: corporate tax reform and income tax reform. Some of report's recommendations were passed by the 2005 KY General Assembly.

Taking Stock: A Snapshot of Economic Indicators for Kentucky
How do you describe Kentuckians' economic well-being? This packet of charts and facts from a DRC presentation gives a basic overview in the areas of Jobs & the Economy, Income & Poverty, and Taxes & Budget (produced July 17, 2004).

Kentucky’s Coal Severance Tax: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Kentucky's tax on the coal industry should be a resource for a better future for the state's coal counties. This basic overview of the tax identifies some of its serious problems and looks at general options for reform.

Kentucky's Low Road to Economic Development: What Corporate Subsidies Are Doing to the Commonwealth
Economic development continues to be a primary concern for many Kentuckians. This 2000 report by DRC explores the use of tax incentives in the state and offers alternative ways of doing development.

Kentucky Resources:

The Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center was created by the Kentucky General Assembly and serves as a catalyst to change the way decisions are made in government by providing decision makers a broader context in which to make decisions. KLTPRC reports and programs examine the long-term implications of policy and critical trends and emerging issues which are likely to have a significant impact on the state.

One report of interest is the State of the Commonwealth Index which measures and ranks well-being in Kentucky.

Also noteworthy is Resources Do Produce Results, an article in KLTPRC's Foresight newsletter by Dr. Blake Haselton and Michael Davis which examines how increased education funding resulting from KERA has led to significant improvement in Kentucky’s education system.

Related Articles:

State Ripe for Picking by Right-Wing Populists: UK Political Science Professor Ernie Yanarella writes that Republican Party ascendency could transform Kentucky into a pseudo populist stronghold much like Kansas has become. Lexington Herald-Leader (2/13/05)

Also: Some Truths About Taxes, Jobs & Economic Growth. The Reality: Tax Cuts Cost Jobs