A founding member of Kentucky’s best known education advocacy organization is thankful to legislators for coming to agreement on a state budget, something she calls crucial for the state.
Pam Miller has served more than three decades on the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.
Miller is pleased Kentucky will have a spending plan for the next two years but she’s concerned about cuts to higher education.
"When other states are increasing their commitment to higher education, it’s too bad that we’re still going in the opposite direction," said Miller. "It’s gonna make a difference for the education of our population and our workforce.”
She says a ‘big solution’ is needed to make a sizeable impact on addressing Kentucky’s 30 billion dollar pension deficit.
“In my opinion, you’ve got to deal with the pensions through tax reform. Get a more realistic tax structure and attack it that way rather than cutting our way to prosperity.”
The budget agreement includes a 4.5 percent cut to the state’s colleges and universities over the next two years.
The final spending plan is expected to be approved by the House and Senate tomorrow (Friday).
