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U.S. State15th State · June 1, 1792
Kentucky KY
"The Bluegrass State"
Where thoroughbred horses run through rolling green pastures, bourbon ages in oak barrels, and two Civil War presidents share a birthplace, Kentucky is one of America's most distinctly American states.
Kentucky state finances at a glance
State Debt - FY2024
$10.1 billion
Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.
Tax Revenue - FY2024
$17.3 billion
Total Kentucky state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the general sales and use tax ($5.8B) and the individual income tax ($5.0B).
Borrowing
Kentucky's constitution caps direct state debt at $500,000 without a statewide vote, so almost all borrowing is done through appropriation-backed bonds issued by bodies such as the State Property and Buildings Commission, the Turnpike Authority, and public universities. Those bonds are sold to investors, banks, mutual funds, and insurers in the tax-exempt municipal market and repaid from future legislative appropriations. The state reported about $141 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.
4.6M
Population
15th
State (1792)
95%
World's Bourbon
400+mi
Mammoth Cave