Beshear says state in better shape than when he took office

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear says Kentucky’s next governor is in a much better position to write the state’s multi-billion spending plan than he was when he took office. Beshear will leave office Dec. 7 after eight years. Republican Matt Bevin will take his place after winning the election on Nov. 3 with more than 52 percent of the vote.
Beshear met with reporters at the Governor’s Mansion on Tuesday to discuss his legacy. He said he cut $1.6 billion from the state’s budget to keep it afloat during the Great Recession, including $340 million in his first year. He said state revenues grew 6 percent last month.
But Beshear leaves behind a public pension system for teachers with a $14 billion unfunded liability. Bevin has said fixing that system is his top priority.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.