State budget cuts costing students and jobs in Central Kentucky

We're starting to learn more about the impact of the massive budget cuts proposed and passed by Kentucky's elected leaders earlier this year. 

Here are some of the impacts collected over the last couple of days:

• Lexington is losing 304 jobs because of budget cuts to the University of Kentucky--the city's largest employer.  UK lost $20 million in state funding this year, even though their fixed costs rose by $23 million.  UK says that 140 people are losing their jobs, and an additional 164 positions are unfilled. Some lecturers have been put on notice for next year. Some of the job cuts have been announced; many haven't.  One notable job loss announced today was Chester Grundy, the director of UK's Martin Luther King Cultural Center. You can learn more starting with this article from the Herald Leader.

• Also in Lexington, at least 25 health department workers are losing their jobs because of budget cuts to public health. This is on top of 25 workers who lost their jobs last summer, also because of budget cuts. You can read more here in today's Herald-Leader.

• Eastern Kentucky University is raising tuition by 5% this year.  Staff won't be getting cost-of-living salary increases. You can read more here.

These are just the impacts announced over the last few days, in Central Kentucky. What are the impacts in your community?