Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Proposed state budget includes $1.5 million funding drop for WKU
WKU could lose $1.5 million in state funding next fiscal year if House Bill 500, the Kentucky legislature’s budget bill for the next two years, becomes law. Kentucky’s legislature agreed on a budget bill last Wednesday, April 1, that is now awaiting Gov. Andy Beshear’s approval. In HB 500, the budget bill for the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years, WKU is slated to receive a 2.18% cut to just over $69 million from $70.6 million the year prior. This number is “unrestricted” funds in the 2026-27 fiscal year, which will also decrease the following year. Read more by Isaiah Merricks