Senate questions coal severance

By Russ Cassady Staff Writer

As the haggling over the state’s budget continues, the coal severance projects approved for Pike and other counties by the state House may not clear the Senate.

State Sen. Ray S. Jones II said Wednesday that, because they feel some of the projects might not meet the requirements of a coal severance project, there is some indication all projects might not see immediate approval.

“They may not approve any single-county coal severance projects,” Jones said.

Conference committees were being scheduled, according to state Rep. W. Keith Hall, to discuss the issue, with he and 95th District state Rep. Greg Stumbo, of Prestonsburg, expected to be involved in the talks.

According to Hall, the problem stems from opposition to some of the projects proposed in the House version of the coal severance budget.

“They have a problem with anything that isn’t brick and mortar,” he said.

Hall said some of those projects meeting opposition include money put aside for senior citizens’ centers, family resource/youth service centers and fire departments.

An example Jones used of a project that is being questioned is the request by one House member of coal severance money for a high school trophy case.

Another project meeting with resistance, Hall said, is a proposed $100,000 softball field at Phelps High School, which Hall said he feels is needed.

“That’s the only school in Pike County that doesn’t have a Title IX-approved softball field for our children,” he said, adding he saw the problem and saw the solution in coal severance money. “I want to fix that with coal severance money.”

Hall said the state already sets it so that only 12 percent of the coal severance money comes back to the counties and he doesn’t think that people outside the area should be able to say what kind of project meets the requirements for coal severance tax.

“We’re benefiting the people and serving the people of Pike County,” he said.

Jones said the Republican Senate leadership and some Western Kentucky-based Democratic senators have said that the coal severance budget, as submitted, needs to be cleaned up.

Some changes have already been made, Jones said, including ones made because of an additional $1.5 million in funding being located that was not applied for in the House version of the coal severance budget. That money, he said, has been applied to water and sewer and other projects.

Ultimately, Jones said, a compromise will have to be reached.

“This isn’t a partisan issue,” he said. “This is about what I can bring home to my district.”

The House approved nearly $11 million in coal severance projects for Pike County earlier this month, more than half of which is earmarked for water and sewer projects in the county.

Jones said there is still time for discussion on the issue and there is a possibility the list of projects, as it is, could meet approval or could require major changes.

Coal severance is typically a controversial issue and this year has been no different.

Local and state lawmakers have expressed differences over House Bill 410, a bill sponsored by 94th District Rep. Leslie Combs that would make changes to the way coal severance is distributed.

The bill, legislators have said, would return the single-county coal severance project decision-making process to what it was before former Governor Ernie Fletcher made changes during his term.

However, local officials, including members of the Pike Fiscal Court, have expressed the opinion the bill would take all power over the money away from the fiscal courts.

That bill cleared the house by a nearly unanimous vote and is currently before the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee. It remains unclear whether the bill will see passage this year, with only days remaining in the legislative session.