Lexington Herald-Leader
March 23, 2005
KCTCS REGENTS CHOSEN
Student regents from Gateway Community and Technical College and Southeast
Kentucky Community and Technical College have been elected to serve on the board
of regents of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System during the
2005-06 academic year.
Christine A. Buckner, a student at Gateway, and Kari E. Shackelford, who attends
Southeast Kentucky, will begin serving their one-year terms on July 1. Buckner,
who entered Gateway after spending nearly 15 years in the work force, is pursuing
an associate's degree in information technology. She is a member of the college's
national technical honor society. Shackelford is a full-time student majoring
in pre-law and works part time at Home Federal Bank.
Lexington Herald-Leader
March 23, 2005
HOMELAND SECURITY
Bob Hammonds has been appointed the state director of homeland security initiatives
for the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. The Homeland Security
program provides specialized training across the state to meet the current and
emerging education needs for operational security. In his new position, Hammonds
will direct and oversee homeland security initiatives and projects for all of
Kentucky's community and technical colleges.
Cincinnati Business Courier
March 14, 2005
KCTCS increases tuition 6.5%
The board of regents of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System
has raised in-state tuition rates (including fees) to $98 per credit hour for
the 2005-06 academic year, an increase of 6.5 percent, according to a news release.
The amount of the increase from the 2004-05 tuition rates was made following
the passage of the 2005 state budget which included an additional $45 million
in base funding for the state colleges and universities
"We are extremely appreciative of the commitment and acknowledgment of
KCTCS from the governor and the General Assembly," said Cynthia Read, chair
of the board of regents. "With the additional funding provided in the budget,
we were able to set an affordable tuition rate that allows us to continue our
momentum and offer our students the highest educational value in the Commonwealth."
KCTCS is expected to receive approximately $12.6 million in additional base
funding, plus an additional $1 million for enrollment growth, the release said.
Lexington, Ky.-based KCTCS is a system of more than 62 campuses across Kentucky.
It includes Gateway Community and Technical School in Northern Kentucky.
Cincinnati Business Courier
March 18, 2005
Ky.'s tax reform way too modest
Editorial
When it comes to the budget recently passed by the Kentucky General Assembly,
there's good news and bad news.
The good news is that the legislature was even able to agree on a budget. During
the previous two sessions, legislators shirked their constitutional responsibility
to pass a budget. That forced Gov. Paul Patton and Gov. Ernie Fletcher to enact
their own spending plans.
Last December, Franklin Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden ruled that Fletcher
exceeded his authority when he took control of state spending. Kentucky's Supreme
Court ultimately will decide what the governor can and can't do when the legislature
fails to pass a budget.
But when the lawmakers finally got down to work, they fulfilled much of Northern
Kentucky's wish list. Northern Kentucky University was allotted $98 million
for projects that include a special events arena, a student union building and
a parking garage. Gateway Technical and Community College will receive $15 million
to expand its campus in Edgewood.
Campbell, Kenton and Boone counties also did well in road project funding,
noted Steve Stevens, vice president of public affairs for the Northern Kentucky
Chamber of Commerce. Some key projects being funded: a redesign of the I-471
ramp at Newport on the Levee; design work for a connector between I-275 and
AA Highway; and work on Ky. 9 near the Fourth Street bridge in Newport.
"We're very pleased," Stevens said of region's piece of the budget
pie.
The bad news about the budget is that it included a record $2.1 billion in
projects. In an effort to try to please almost everyone and get a budget passed,
legislators threw fiscal responsibility to the wind. They left only $29 million
in the state's emergency fund and are relying on rosy revenue projections to
justify the spending. A lot of vital projects are funded in this budget, but
numerous other projects should have been put on the back burner until it's clear
the needed revenue is available.
It's good news that the legislature finally passed some form of tax reform.
Raising the cigarette tax to 30 cents a pack from 3 cents was long overdue.
And it's good that 216,000 low-income tax filers will be removed from the tax
rolls.
But it's bad news, or at least disappointing news, that the reductions in the
personal income and corporate income taxes were too modest to make a real difference.
The personal income tax rate was reduced to 5.8 percent from 6 percent on income
up to $75,000 a year. And the corporate income tax will be reduced from 8 percent
to 7 percent immediately and to 6 percent in two years.
Although the two tax reductions and the elimination of the intangibles tax
are positive steps, they are not enough to make Kentucky a major competitor
for the kind of new-age, growth companies the state needs to attract.
The legislature deserves credit for overcoming political differences, but they
shouldn't hurt themselves patting each other on the back, either. By not curbing
spending on projects and by not enacting a tax code that results in significant
new revenue, they only delayed making tough decisions that will have to be addressed
the next time they meet.
Louisville Business Courier
March 11, 2005
State budget offers reasons to celebrate, worry
Editorial
When it comes to the budget recently passed by the Kentucky General Assembly,
there's good news and bad news.
The good news is that the legislature was even able to agree on a budget. During
the previous two sessions, legislators shirked their constitutional responsibility
to pass a budget. That forced Gov. Paul Patton and Gov. Ernie Fletcher to enact
their own spending plans. Last December, Franklin Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden
ruled that Fletcher exceeded his authority when he took control of state spending.
Kentucky's Supreme Court ultimately will decide what the governor can and can't
do when the legislature fails to pass a budget.
The bad news about the budget is that it included a record $2.1 billion in
projects. In an effort to try to please almost everyone and get a budget passed,
legislators threw fiscal responsibility to the wind. They left only $29 million
in the state's emergency fund and are relying on rosy revenue projections to
justify the spending. A lot of vital projects are funded in this budget, but
numerous other projects should have been put on the back burner until it's clear
the needed revenue is available.
It's good news that the legislature finally passed some form of tax reform.
Raising the cigarette tax to 30 cents a pack from 3 cents was long overdue.
And it's good that 216,000 low-income tax filers will be removed from the tax
rolls.
But it's bad news, or at least disappointing news, that the reductions in the
personal income and corporate income taxes were too modest to make a real difference.
The personal income tax rate was reduced to 5.8 percent from 6 percent on income
up to $75,000 a year. And the corporate income tax will be reduced from 8 percent
to 7 percent immediately and to 6 percent in two years.
Although the two tax reductions and the elimination of the intangibles tax
are positive steps, they are not enough to make Kentucky a major competitor
for the kind of new-age, growth companies the state needs to attract.
There's good news for much-needed Louisville projects that were threatened
at some point during the budgetary process. The conference committee restored
full funding for the University of Louisville's $39.2 million health science
research facility. The renovation of the East Wing at the Kentucky Fair &
Exposition Center also was funded, as was a renovation project at Jefferson
Community and Technical College and a science educational program at the Louisville
Science Center.
But there was bad news in the budget for Jefferson County roads and schools.
The formulas for allocating state road and education funds are antiquated and
result in Louisville getting less than its fair share of state funding in those
two important areas. So even though $450 million went into the state road fund
and an additional $52.5 million was raised for funding education statewide,
Louisville will still be on the short end of the stick went it comes to state
road and education funds.
The legislature deserves credit for overcoming political differences and passing
a budget this year and for taking a shot at tax reform.
But legislators shouldn't hurt themselves patting each other on the back, either.
By not curbing spending on projects and by not enacting a tax code that results
in significant new revenue, they only delayed making tough decisions that will
have to be addressed the next time they meet.
|
