FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Steve Beshear has left revenue from a
portion of the state's coal tax unallocated in case lawmakers
choose to create a new state university in Pikeville.
Beshear presented his two-year budget proposal to a joint
session of the House and Senate on Tuesday evening.
He reminded lawmakers that he will hire a consultant to review
whether the private University of Pikeville should be made a part
of the state's system of public universities.
That move would be funded with so-called "multi-county coal
severance tax revenues."
Democratic state Rep. Leslie Combs of Pikeville filed
legislation on Tuesday to create the public university in
Kentucky's Appalachian region where the college graduation rate is
far lower than the statewide average.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
