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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer praised Governor Ernie Fletcher and the Kentucky General Assembly for funding a new motor fuels testing laboratory and other important Kentucky Department of Agriculture initiatives in the 2006-2008 state budget. However, the budget left other necessary programs unfunded, Commissioner Farmer said.
Governor Fletcher signed the state budget for the next two fiscal years on Monday.
“I want to thank Governor Fletcher, House Speaker Jody Richards, Senate President David Williams and the entire General Assembly for working with me and my senior staff in a constructive, bipartisan way to adopt most of my legislative agenda and budgetary priorities,” Commissioner Farmer said. “At the same time, I was sorry to see that some Department programs were not funded, and I am concerned that this budget will make it harder for us to provide some of the services the people of Kentucky expect and deserve.”
The proposed laboratory will enable the Department to perform in-house testing of motor fuel quality and octane levels. The KDA also will be able to use the lab to support the Department’s pesticide regulatory programs, follow up on complaints, and analyze pesticide residues in the environment. The Department will get $1.65 million in the 2007-2008 fiscal year to set up and equip the lab.
“This facility will enable the Department to do an even better job of making sure Kentucky consumers get the amount and octane level of gasoline they pay for,” Commissioner Farmer said. “The lab will save us money that we spend having motor fuel and pesticides tested in outside labs. Plus, we think other agencies and other states will use our lab. It’s a wise investment for the future of the Commonwealth.”
Commissioner Farmer also thanked Governor Fletcher and the General Assembly for:
- Appropriating $495,000 per year for matching capital grants for the KDA’s Kentucky State Aid to Local Agricultural Fairs Program. Under the program, local fairs may apply for grants of $20,000-$100,000 for capital improvements.
- Authorizing the KDA to establish fees for amusement ride inspections of $10 to $500 based on the ride’s complexity. The action will enable the Department to fund more positions for amusement ride inspectors. The number of inspectors has declined in recent years while the number of initial inspections jumped 41 percent from 2004 to 2005.
- Providing funds for a replacement van for the Department’s forage testing program. The Department analyzes forage samples upon request for a $10 fee per sample. The program runs the Hay Hotline and the online Hay/Forage Sales Directory.
Commissioner Farmer said he was disappointed that Governor Fletcher chose to veto bonding authority of $2.5 million for animal shelters. He noted that counties are trying to bring their shelters into compliance with state law by the July 2007 deadline. “We get numerous requests for funding for animal shelter construction, so there’s obviously a need for this service,” Commissioner Farmer said. “The counties want to follow the law, but they also want to protect their citizens. The lack of funding for animal shelters will create a hardship for many counties.”
Commissioner Farmer said it was unfortunate that Governor Fletcher and the General Assembly chose not to provide funding to set up a statewide all-terrain vehicle training program. Kentucky led the nation in ATV deaths from 2002-2004. A program to protect farmland from development also was not funded.
“I’ve always believed that people working together toward a common goal can achieve great things,” Commissioner Farmer concluded. “We accomplished many good things in this session that will improve the quality of life of every Kentuckian. We look forward to working with the Governor and the General Assembly in the future to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth.”
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