By KPR
Frankfort, KY – Despite revenues exceeding projections for the last fiscal year in Kentucky, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bob Leeper says the Commonwealth is a long way from overcoming its financial hardships. The Paducah Senator says Governor Beshear used federal stimulus money to plug holes in Kentucky's last two-year budget. Leeper says those funds won't be available when lawmakers craft a new spending plan in January and Kentucky continues to have an imbalance of spending and revenues
"I believe some of the strategies the administration has used to get us through these times have been one time moneys. They are going to quite frankly add to that structural balance as we go to 13-14."
Leeper also says he thinks Congress will pass more responsibility for funding various services to the states as the feds cope with their own budget difficulties.