SHARE What You Need To Know State lawmakers return to Frankfort Jan. 5 for the new legislative session Lawmakers will be tasked with figuring out a spending plan for the next budget year Research director for Kentucky Center for Economic Policy says once federal aid from pandemic dries up, economic picture will look grim Report says Ky. has increased needs in education, Medicaid spending, corrections, and human services “We have a backlog of budget needs from over a decade of cuts,” said Ashley Spalding, research director with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. “We are not funding our public education system adequately.”