Mary Lassiter

Former Kentucky Budget Director: No "Money for Anything"

Lisa Autry — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:07:54 +0000

Despite the end of the economic recession and a growth in state revenue, Kentucky’s budget will remain tight. Former Budget Director, now Cabinet Secretary Mary Lassiter will address a joint House and Senate budget committee Tuesday.

She is expected to say state programs and agencies should not expect cuts in recent years to be restored in the next State budget. Lassiter tells the Courier-Journal, “There’s no money for anything.”

Lassiter says any new revenue in the state budget passed in 2014 budget will be consumed by additional spending required for pensions, Medicaid, and replacing one-time funds being spent on recurring needs in the current budget. She declined to say if the tight long-term revenue outlook will also be the theme of the State of the Commonwealth address Gov. Steve Beshear is to deliver Wednesday night.

General Fund Receipts for September Increase, but Still Fall Below Pace to Meet Official Estimate

Dan Modlin — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:25:26 +0000

Kentucky's General Fund Receipts increased by 5.3 percent last month, compared to September of last year. However, revenues for the first quarter still fell below the pace needed to meet the official estimate. Meanwhile, road funds declined 3.9 percent.

Flat Growth in Kentucky Budget Causing Some Concerns

Kenny Colston — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 19:23:32 +0000

Kentucky budget officials say they are paying close attention to revenue as the state budget sees a flat growth at the start of the fiscal year. Budget director Mary Lassiter says in her monthly briefing that August revenues ticked up, helping make up 2 percent of losses in July. But that leaves revenues flat, while forecasters had expected an almost 3 percent growth this year.

Kentucky's General Government Revenue Declines

Associated Press and Dan Modlin — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:14:58 +0000

A report released by State Budget Director Mary Lassiter reveals that receipts from both the state's sales and income taxes declined in July. Lassiter says she still expects the state to meet projections of modest revenue growth over the remainder of the new fiscal year, despite declines in general fund revenue for three of the past four months.

Kentucky Budget Surplus Less Than Originally Expected, but Good News Remains

Kenny Colston — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 20:15:24 +0000

Despite accounting mistakes and unforeseen disaster relief expenses, state government is closing the 2012 budget with another surplus. Originally, the budgetary surplus was $83 million. Now it's almost halved to $45 million.