Emergency Highway Funds Severely Depleted

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A spending spree by the Transportation
Cabinet in the final months of former Gov. Ernie Fletcher's term has left the state's contingency fun at dangerously low levels.

The cabinet spent 99 percent of the money appropriated to the Highway Construction Contingency Account on blacktopping local roads.

That leaves the new administration with about $650,000 to spend with more than half the fiscal year still remaining.

New Transportation Cabinet secretary Joe Prather said the money won't be enough to cover "unforeseen emergencies" the rest of the year.

State law says the transportation secretary can spend money on the account on emergencies, hazards and "other purposes that the secretary determines to be a priority."

Former Transportation secretary Bill Nighbert declined to comment.

AP-NY-12-22-07 1014EST

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