Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
For months now, Kentucky's economy has been heating up and we have seen a slew of positive economic development and new jobs announcements.
Last week, that heat grew hotter when the state budget office reported we are ending the 2021 fiscal year in the best shape of my lifetime, with a general fund surplus of over $1.1 billion - the highest ever in the commonwealth - and a 10.9% increase in general fund receipts, to $12.8 billion.
This surplus is three times larger than we've ever seen. Our rainy-day fund is growing to almost $2 billion - also a record.
We've set other records: the largest increase in sales tax since 1990 and the largest growth in our general fund in 26 years. These are indicators that people are out and spending, that our economy is open and revenue is coming in.