LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: February 5, 2009

 

by State Representative Addia Wuchner

General Assembly Challenging Session Amid Budgetary Imbalances

Greetings from Frankfort ! We arrived in Frankfort this week facing a myriad of multifaceted economic and critical budgetary imbalances. This first full week of the 09 Legislative session, keeping an eye on the Federal level and our Nation's struggles, we are focused on Kentucky's challenges, and developing a plan of action that assures Kentuckians opportunity and success in the future. Kentuckians opportunity and success in the future.

I would like to thank those of you have contacted me over the past few weeks to voice your concerns, share your circumstances and express your expectations of what your government should and should not be doing given the current situation. In the next few weeks I will look at every issue with your needs in mind. keeping Boone County and Northern Kentucky on Frankfort 's radar, while continuing to work diligently to address school funding, improve healthcare, roads and infrastructure.

It is imperative that we have the political will to collectively focus our efforts to enact solid “future building” legislative solutions.. No doubt, we will face some tough choices… We can not afford to be short sighted in our decision making. Keeping in mind that Government does not create wealth and prosperity, but strives to assure there is opportunity for hard working individuals, and small businesses to thrive. We must keep our focus on rebuilding Kentucky 's economy, creating jobs, helping working families and small business owners so that we preserve the future for our children and grandchildren.

On Tuesday, more than 177 House bills had been filed for consideration this session with more filed daily and over 800 requests for bill drafts. Over the next two months, the General Assembly's committees will meet to debate the merits of the proposed legislation. Some of the proposed bills are recycled while others address recently emerging issues.

I have my own recycled bill in the mix this year. I have been working on school funding since I was first elected. It has been a process, bringing the various groups together to engage on the matter, and we finally reach a solution to the portion of the funding inequity resulting from a glitch in House Bill 44. Last session I filed HB 752 which passed the House Education committee 25-0. When time ran out in the 08 session I folded the language of HB 752 into the Budget Bill , but this is only good for the two year life of the budget.

This year I have recycled HB 752 as 2009 House Bill 108, which has two components. The first will allow school districts to request a third recalculation of their Support Educational Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding. Currently, SEEK funding is based on the previous year's numbers and a recalculation is done after the second month of the school year.  House Bill 108 will allow districts like Boone experiencing dramatic growth to request a recalculation in January and capture the increasing enrollment. . 

The “ most critical” component of House Bill 108 repairs the inequities in SEEK under House Bill 44 that resulted in the four percent cap on property tax revenue when calculating SEEK. Last year the new property assessments and the current application of the law resulted in a $629,600.00 loss to Boone County Schools. The funds to finance this inequity come “ lapsed or excess” SEEK funds previously allotted to the education. Without passage of this provision school districts have had to make up this funding short fall from local effort. Over the next few weeks, Boone County citizens will travel to Frankfort in support of HB 108 and various education legislation.

I thank everyone in advance for their support and assistance .

This coming Saturday our Northern Kentucky Caucus will provide the community an opportunity to discuss legislative matters during an open public forum with the Caucus at NKU from 10-noon. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me or Representative Sal Santoro NKY Caucus chair. 502.564.8100.