Government budget and revenue in Kentucky, United States: official figures
Kentucky's state government took in $48.5 billion in fiscal year 2024, $10,585 per resident, 16th highest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the Kentucky state government spend?
The Kentucky state government spent $47.7 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $10,405 per resident, 15th highest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 34.3% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($35.5 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the Kentucky state government have?
Kentucky state government debt outstanding was $10.1 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $2,199 per resident, 14th lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 21% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $15.3 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does Kentucky get?
The federal government provided $21.5 billion to the Kentucky state government in fiscal year 2024, $4,685 per resident and 44.3% of its general revenue, 4th highest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to Kentucky spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $15.7 billion or 73% of Kentucky's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $2.7 billion (12%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the Kentucky state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $4,481 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 5th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,127 per resident and highways $544.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Kentucky give to local governments and schools?
14.2% of Kentucky's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($6.8 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 2nd lowest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Kentucky collect?
Kentucky collected $17.3 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $3,763 per resident, 20th lowest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 0.5% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($17.3 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Kentucky rely on?
The individual income tax raised $4.8 billion (27.7% of state taxes, 16th lowest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $5.8 billion (33.6%, 20th highest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the general sales and gross receipts tax (33.6%), followed by the individual income tax (27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Kentucky have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in Kentucky, corporate net income tax raised $2.3 billion (13.5% of state taxes); state property tax raised $839.3 million; severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals raised $93.6 million (0.5% of state taxes).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the Kentucky state government hold in reserves?
The Kentucky state government held $49.0 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $10,686 per resident, of which $47.0 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Kentucky compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
Kentucky ranks 16 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Minnesota | $10,873 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $10,689 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $10,593 |
| 16 | Kentucky | $10,585 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $10,535 |
| 18 | Iowa | $10,005 |
| 19 | Maine | $9,734 |
State government spending per person (2024)
Kentucky ranks 15 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Rhode Island | $11,099 |
| 13 | West Virginia | $10,880 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $10,565 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $10,405 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $10,223 |
| 17 | Maryland | $10,187 |
| 18 | Washington | $10,050 |
State government debt per person (2024)
Kentucky ranks 37 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Montana | $2,423 |
| 35 | Kansas | $2,416 |
| 36 | Texas | $2,237 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $2,199 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $2,140 |
| 39 | Alabama | $2,129 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $1,692 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
Kentucky ranks 6 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Wyoming | $5,274 |
| 4 | New York | $5,019 |
| 5 | Louisiana | $4,848 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $4,685 |
| 7 | Vermont | $4,667 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $4,251 |
| 9 | Oregon | $4,117 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
Kentucky ranks 4 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisiana | 50.2% |
| 2 | Alaska | 48.8% |
| 3 | Arizona | 45.3% |
| 4 | Kentucky | 44.3% |
| 5 | Montana | 43.8% |
| 6 | Missouri | 43.2% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 42.0% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
Kentucky ranks 31 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Utah | $3,994 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $3,936 |
| 30 | Indiana | $3,932 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $3,763 |
| 32 | Iowa | $3,743 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $3,707 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $3,628 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Kentucky ranks 35 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Hawaii | 29.8% |
| 33 | Louisiana | 29.0% |
| 34 | Ohio | 28.3% |
| 35 | Kentucky | 27.7% |
| 36 | Vermont | 26.9% |
| 37 | Arkansas | 21.8% |
| 38 | Mississippi | 21.7% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Kentucky ranks 20 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | South Carolina | 35.2% |
| 18 | Maine | 34.3% |
| 19 | Utah | 33.7% |
| 20 | Kentucky | 33.6% |
| 21 | Louisiana | 33.5% |
| 22 | Kansas | 32.6% |
| 23 | Michigan | 32.3% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
Kentucky ranks 5 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | New York | $4,868 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $4,803 |
| 4 | Oregon | $4,799 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $4,481 |
| 6 | Alaska | $4,438 |
| 7 | Vermont | $4,164 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $4,101 |
More on Kentucky: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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