Cuts to Funding for Scientific Research Proposed in Kentucky

Cuts to Funding for Scientific Research Proposed in Kentucky

On January 16, 2018, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin proposed a two-year budget that would cut state spending by 6.25%. The cuts would affect numerous scientific research programs, including the Kentucky Mesonet, which would have its funding eliminated. The Mesonet consists of a network of 69 weather monitoring stations that collect data during extreme weather events. Measurements are collected every five minutes and the data is made publicly available. It is primarily used for forecasting, including by the National Weather Service in Louisville, which prepare forecasts about snow, thunderstorms and other conditions based on the data. It also provides a record that researchers can use to study the impact of climate change.