For Immediate Release
January 26, 2000
Contact: Mark Pfeiffer (502) 564-2611
Audio available on NEWSLINER at 800-633-1019

Governor Presents Ambitious Budget to Move Kentucky Forward

Frankfort, Ky. - Interrupted by applause more than forty times during his speech, Governor Paul Patton presented an ambitious $14-Billion budget for Kentucky for the next two years that he describes as “a budget for all Kentucky, for every Kentuckian, for the future of every Kentuckian to come.”

The priorities set out in the governor’s budget are aimed toward his overall goals for the state of improving education, building self-sustaining families, promoting economic development, reducing crime and its costs to society and strengthening the efficiency and operations of state government.  “Kentucky’s on the move and it’s our job to keep it going that way,” Governor Patton told lawmakers. “That’s the challenge we face; as a people, and as policymakers responsible for the future of 3.9 million people.  And it all starts with the budget.”

Highlights of Governor Patton’s budget proposal:

·     $92 million dollars for new schools

·     $227 million dollars for postsecondary education

·     $210 million dollars in community development

·    $163 million dollars for new juvenile justice and corrections facilities

At 4p.m. Wednesday, January 26^th, Governor Patton will hold a news briefing at the Farnham-Dudgeon Civic Center in Frankfort to present his Tax Fairness and Equity Plan.  

In his budget address to the legislature Tuesday night, the governor challenged lawmakers to join him in taking a bold step to move Kentucky forward into the 21^st Century. 

“We’re faced with a critical decision,” the governor said.  “Do we move forward boldly and continue a course that will build a stronger future for our children and grandchildren, or do we avoid the tough decisions as we’ve done so often in the past, and take the easy course.   Should that be the path we follow, we will only fall further behind as the rest of the nation aggressively pursues the benefits of a new economy. I’ve made my decision.  I intend to forge ahead.”

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