Five state agencies overspent their budgets during the past fiscal year by nearly $22,000,000…That’s what state budget officials told House and Senate members of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee last week. Those agencies were the Kentucky State Fair Board, State Police and the Departments of Parks, Public Advocacy and Natural Resources.
The shortfall in the State Police budget was said to be $7,000,000. John Hicks is deputy state budget director. He says the KSP has been hurt by higher fuel costs…
"Commissioner Brewer has been holding down mileage-driven, as much as possible, without reducing service calls. Gasoline prices is an uncontrollable...for an agency like the State Police and they have had that catch up with them in the last two years." - John Hicks
Hicks says cost-cutting measures already taken by the KSP and additional steps planned for this fiscal year should moderate the level of overspending in the future. He says those types of economies and supplemental appropriations will cover the deficits for all the agencies.
