Gov. Beshear’s Budget Plan Supports Law Enforcement, Boosts Public Safety

His plan includes moving all statewide law enforcement back to defined pension benefits.

(Frankfort, Ky.) – With a record budget surplus, the largest Rainy Day Fund in state history, and good economic conditions, Governor Andy Beshear has outlined his budget plan.

Kentucky’s General Fund budget surplus at the end of the fiscal year 2023 came in above $1.55 billion. Nearly all of the surplus went to the commonwealth’s Rainy Day Fund, bringing the fund to a record balance of $3.7 billion.

The governor’s plan includes more funding to support law enforcement officers and boost public safety.

The Governor’s 2024-2026 budget proposal includes:

• Moving all statewide law enforcement pension plans back to defined pension benefits (State Police, County Employees-Hazardous, Kentucky Employees-Hazardous), increasing pension income for retired Kentucky State Police troopers and local jurisdictions in those pension plans. Better pension benefits are needed to improve both the recruitment and retention of our front-line public safety employees.
• Boosting pay for law enforcement with an additional $2,500 raise for all KRS Chapter 16 employees, which includes all troopers, vehicle enforcement officers and a few other job classes. This builds on the historic $15,000 per year pay pump the Governor signed into law in 2022, the 6.5% salary bump these employees received July 1, 2023, and a $300 increase in the training incentive stipend. If passed, today’s proposal would build on the efforts from the past two years, which resulted in at least a $18,875 pay bump.
• Support for training for local law enforcement officers by raising the current $4,300 training stipend to an all-time high of $4,800, building on the $300 increase that went into effect in the current budget.
• Support for part-time local law enforcement officers by also making them eligible for the training stipend as they are required to meet the same training requirements as full-time officers.
• Providing grant funding to upgrade body armor to protect local law enforcement officers, inspired by KSP Trooper Billy Ball, who was able to fully recover after being shot while on duty, due to his body armor.

“Our law enforcement officers dedicate their lives to protecting others. They deserve the best wages, benefits and training, and that is exactly what my budget includes,” Gov. Beshear said. “Investing in our law enforcement is critical to building that better Kentucky and making the commonwealth the safest place for our families to live and prosper.”

Beshear remains committed to supporting Kentucky State Police’s continued recruitment efforts. KSP has approximately 895 troopers serving and protecting Kentucky’s 120 counties. On August 11, KSP will graduate the next round of cadets, bring the sworn troopers numbers up to roughly 940. This is the highest number of troopers the agency has employed since 2006.