FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWSNOW) — With over $3 billion in Kentucky’s Budget Reserve Trust Fund, people have differing opinions on where it should go. People like Jason Bailey, the executive director for the Kentucy Center for Economic Policy, say the money is not being used correctly. “You don’t just stuff money in a mattress when you have such pressing needs,” he said. Needs which include housing, support for local communities and teacher pay raises. On the other hand, Senator David Givens says it’s important to keep the money in the rainy day fund for future needs. “As policy makers, we want to make sure that we have plenty of cushion money there should we need it,” Sen. Givens said. When it comes to natural disasters, Kentucky knows them all too well. There are still people from the 2022 flooding who are trying to get back on their feet. “We’ll have direct contact with our local county judges, our local emergency management groups, area development districts. So, there will be lots of sources of input about the nature and need for those funds,” Sen. Givens said. Others say the state is not doing enough to help those in need. “Instead, it continues to sideline that money in the rainy day fund and hold it even while there are people who just don’t have a place to live,” Bailey said. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: budget fund reserve, Economy, Flooding, jason bailey, natural disasters, Rainy Day Fund, senator givens