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Napier, Harmon pleased with budget's funding for area projects

April 12, 2006|BOBBIE CURD and TODD KLEFFMAN

Rep. Lonnie Napier, R-Lancaster, claims the money awarded to Garrard County in this state budget is the best he's ever seen.

For the Eastern Kentucky University and Bluegrass Community and Technical College facility, $900,000 was awarded to be dispersed for operating expenses over the next biennium, Napier said.

Also awarded was $2.5 million toward the Herrington Lake State Park project.

Lawmakers gave final approval to an $18.1 billion state budget on Tuesday despite concerns that the two-year spending plan comes with a record level of debt.

The House voted 98-2 to pass the budget, one day after the Senate's unanimous approval.

The Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site is one of the beneficiaries. The budget includes $617,000 for land aquisition for property adjacent to the park along with $75,000 to help pay for the national re-enactment of the Battle of Perryville that will be staged in October.

"The Perryville battlefield has been growing as a tourist attraction in recent years and this will help it become an even greater tourist attraction for Boyle County and the state," said Rep. Mike Harmon, R-Junction City.

Park manager Kurt Holman said there are three parcels of land, totaling 160 acres, adjoining the park that were part of the battle and are currently on the market.

One piece of land includes an artillery position used by a Mississippi battallion.

Adding such significant sites would enhance the park and its growing reputation among Civil War enthusiasts, Holman said.

"It would mean more sites, more trails, more interpretations, more everything," Holman said this morning. "There's no downside to it."

Holman said, however, that putting $617,000 in the park's aquisition fund doesn't guarantee that the desired expansion will occur.

There are three property owners to deal with and several other bureaucratic hoops to go through before any deals are done.

"You don't want to count your chickens too early," Holman said. "But getting this funding makes it serious. Without funding, all you can do is talk about it."

Harmon said he is somewhat concerned about the debt level contained in the budget, but that he was "reasonably pleased overall" with the spending plan.

"I think it's one of the best education budgets in the last 10 or 15 years," he said.

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