BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
During Gov. Andy Beshear’s Team Kentucky update Jan. 18, the governor laid out the differences in the budgets proposed by his administration and the budget proposed by the House of Representatives.
Gov. Beshear’s proposed budget allocated $12 million specifically for Martin County water projects, a significant and direct investment in the community’s infrastructure, ensuring that the local needs are met without the uncertainties and competitive pressures of statewide budget allocations.
In contrast, the budget proposition from the House of Representatives, allocating $114 million for clean water expansion and roughly $66 million for drinking water expansion over two years for all 120 counties, dilutes the potential funding for each county to less than $1 million this year and approximately $500,000 next year if distributed evenly across all counties.
Historically, when localities like Martin County enter the fray to secure a share of such statewide funds, the returns are often meager, especially in comparison to more populous or politically influential areas.
“The Martin County Water project, where there is a great need and has been for a long time,” Beshear said, pointing out that the proposed House budget “eliminated that funding.”
While the House budget does include a provision for additional funds to match federal grants, this is a conditional benefit at best. It is worth noting that many of the substantial federal infrastructure grants are managed and distributed by state governments. This mechanism, coupled with the fact that the matching funds provision only applies to grants necessitating a matching component, casts doubt on the potential efficacy and substantiality of this allocation. Martin County might find itself navigating a complex web of prerequisites, overshadowed by more prominent regions, thus rendering the additional funds less impactful and the overall financial support insufficient for the county’s pressing water infrastructure needs.
Earlier this week, Gov. Beshear reposted a social media post by Martin County resident and water advocate Danielle Kirk.
Kirk’s post read: “I have lived in Martin County for 10 years. And for 10 years every winter we go through weeks of not having enough running water. The only thing that has changed in that time, is a 30% increase on the price. Our water was shut off around 11 last night… it’s still off.”
Beshear’s repost added: “Danielle is right: Every family in the Commonwealth deserves access to safe, clean drinking water. My budget would dedicate $500 million to the Better Kentucky Cleaner Water program – including $12 million for Martin County. If our General Assembly works together, we can get this done.”
According to Beshear’s presentation, the House budget will also cause issues for essential government services and create more debt over a four-year period, borrowing the second-largest amount of General Fund bonds in Kentucky history at $2.7 billion.
“We did all of our spending without drawing on the rainy day fund,” added Beshear. “They take about $1.7 billion out of it.”
Beshear assured the audience that the legislative process would likely produce a better budget before it passes.
“I will tell you, last time, the House budget left out a ton; there were a number of mistakes in it. That’s what happens when you try to leapfrog the executive branch, which has always provided the first draft proposal,” said Beshear. “The budget got much better when it went over to the Senate.”