Does rural Kentucky hate Louisville? (Lexington, Hopkinsville: private schools, to live in, trailer)

[stx12499]

Originally Posted by DeoGratias

What would KY be like without Lousiville? Darn near perfect.

I have this idea that if we could reroute the Ohio River to cut off Jefferson, Kenton, and Boone counties, we'd be much better off for doing so. I'd gladly give Kenton and Boone counties to Ohio and Jefferson County to Indiana.

It is comments like these that make me not as sad to leave KY. KY would be the poorest state in the Union without Louisville and NKY, much worse than places like Mississippi. Literally half or more of the state's tax revenues come from these areas. A large chunk of the state's college educated live in these areas, with the exception of Lexington. These areas are the economic powerhouses of the state.

But you know what, I think Louisville would be a much more cosmopolitan and prosperus city if she weren't gifting her tax dollars to poor, rural areas of the state. The same can be said of Cincinnati's suburbs.

http://monitor.louisville.edu/kentucky/NKY.pdf

The study is an old one, from 2002, but its results are STAGGERING.

In 1997, Louisville paid 750 million more in taxes than were returned to it by state governmen. NKY lost nearly 300 million in tax payments to the state that were not redistributed in NKY. That same year, Lexington GAINED 416 Million in tax revenues. The Mountan areas gained 235 million and the cumberland area gained 137 million Favortism anyone??? (that pdf I posted is really worth taking a look at, it is only 15 small powerpoints with graphs).

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by stx12499

http://monitor.louisville.edu/kentucky/NKY.pdf

The study is an old one, from 2002, but its results are STAGGERING.

In 1997, Louisville paid 750 million more in taxes than were returned to it by state governmen. NKY lost nearly 300 million in tax payments to the state that were not redistributed in NKY. That same year, Lexington GAINED 416 Million in tax revenues. The Mountan areas gained 235 million and the cumberland area gained 137 million Favortism anyone??? (that pdf I posted is really worth taking a look at, it is only 15 small powerpoints with graphs).

I think people in Louisville and NKY are finally starting to realize that the "University of Kentucky" is really the "University of Lexington in Kentucky". It makes no sense for anyone outside the Bluegrass Region or Eastern KY to support UK because 99% of economic benefits it produces stays in those areas.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by UofLCardFan08

I have heard of many non-Louisville residents who wouldn't mind seeing Louisville become a part of Indiana.

But I ask you this: Can you imagine what KY would be like without Louisville?

I second all that. If you took either Louisville or NKY from Kentucky, then stx is right; we'd become worse than Mississippi.

Originally Posted by DeoGratias

What would KY be like without Lousiville? Darn near perfect.

I have this idea that if we could reroute the Ohio River to cut off Jefferson, Kenton, and Boone counties, we'd be much better off for doing so. I'd gladly give Kenton and Boone counties to Ohio and Jefferson County to Indiana.

Surely you're kidding.

Originally Posted by Jamie40829

There are so many things wrong with this statement. What would Kentucky be without the Kentucky Derby? Or the University of Louisville? Or that giant Florence Ya'll water tower in Florence that greets drivers on I-75 south? These are just a few icons of those areas that you mentioned.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by stx12499

It is comments like these that make me not as sad to leave KY. KY would be the poorest state in the Union without Louisville and NKY, much worse than places like Mississippi. Literally half or more of the state's tax revenues come from these areas. A large chunk of the state's college educated live in these areas, with the exception of Lexington. These areas are the economic powerhouses of the state.

But you know what, I think Louisville would be a much more cosmopolitan and prosperus city if she weren't gifting her tax dollars to poor, rural areas of the state. The same can be said of Cincinnati's suburbs.

http://monitor.louisville.edu/kentucky/NKY.pdf

The study is an old one, from 2002, but its results are STAGGERING.

In 1997, Louisville paid 750 million more in taxes than were returned to it by state governmen. NKY lost nearly 300 million in tax payments to the state that were not redistributed in NKY. That same year, Lexington GAINED 416 Million in tax revenues. The Mountan areas gained 235 million and the cumberland area gained 137 million Favortism anyone??? (that pdf I posted is really worth taking a look at, it is only 15 small powerpoints with graphs).

Thanks VERY MUCH for posting that link! This SO confirms what I've suspected and my family and friends from West. Ky. have complained about for the last ten years! This is just unbelievable to see Louisville and NKY and, to a lesser extent, West. Ky. get b**ch-slapped so flagrantly b/c of Southern and Eastern Ky. legislative powerhouses. Wait...it's not unbelievable, it's disgusting.

You're right, Louisville and N. Ky. could be even more thriving, cosmopolitan cities if only rural Kentucky opened its eyes to see the economic impacts those areas have on the state. Talk about a modified form of socialist redistribution at its worst...sheesh!

Originally Posted by censusdata

I think people in Louisville and NKY are finally starting to realize that the "University of Kentucky" is really the "University of Lexington in Kentucky". It makes no sense for anyone outside the Bluegrass Region or Eastern KY to support UK because 99% of economic benefits it produces stays in those areas.

West. Ky. only realizes the Cooperative Extension Services offices from UK; sure, some research and medical projects might occur by UK west of I-65, but the bulk of that is done by Murray State, WKU (although they focus more on South Central Ky.,) and UofL.

It's also interesting to note that, and I think you posted this a long time ago censusdata, between UofL and UK, the majority of students from a majority of Western Ky. counties are now choosing UofL over UK. East of US 127, however, every county was highlighted for UK. Pretty telling, actually.

[censusdata]

Originally Posted by jcm1986

It's also interesting to note that, and I think you posted this a long time ago censusdata, between UofL and UK, the majority of students from a majority of Western Ky. counties are now choosing UofL over UK. East of US 127, however, every county was highlighted for UK. Pretty telling, actually.

To clarify I'm not saying U of L does more to help Western KY than UK - I feel that both keep 95% of their economic benefits in their own metro areas. U of L does have an RN program and research facility in Owensboro and classes in Fort Knox but beyond that all it's economic benefits w/i 30 miles of Louisville. UK has the ag extension which hires 1 part time person in each county, but beyond that all the new jobs it creates are in Lexington.

As much as UK and U of L are raising their tuition I think many Kentuckians have been priced out from going to school there. Most U of L fans I know send their kids to Western or Murray, most UK fans I know send their kids to Eastern or Morehead.

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by UofLCardFan08

But I ask you this: Can you imagine what KY would be like without Louisville?

It would be Mississippi

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by censusdata

I think people in Louisville and NKY are finally starting to realize that the "University of Kentucky" is really the "University of Lexington in Kentucky". It makes no sense for anyone outside the Bluegrass Region or Eastern KY to support UK because 99% of economic benefits it produces stays in those areas.

Great idea. And maybe those people in eastern Kentucky who are deathly ill and need of a NICU or advanced life support or high risk surgery should just be left where they are.

Brilliant!

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by censusdata

To clarify I'm not saying U of L does more to help Western KY than UK - I feel that both keep 95% of their economic benefits in their own metro areas. U of L does have an RN program and research facility in Owensboro and classes in Fort Knox but beyond that all it's economic benefits w/i 30 miles of Louisville. UK has the ag extension which hires 1 part time person in each county, but beyond that all the new jobs it creates are in Lexington.

As much as UK and U of L are raising their tuition I think many Kentuckians have been priced out from going to school there. Most U of L fans I know send their kids to Western or Murray, most UK fans I know send their kids to Eastern or Morehead.

Great point!

You know how even regional universities in Ohio and Indiana, for example, have become so expensive that many of their students are now coming to our regional universities (and willingly pay out-of-state tuition for at least a year)? Yeah, well, I'm afraid it might get to that same point here in Kentucky.

Our regional universities now aren't priced as highly as OH, IN, MI, etc. But consider that Murray, Morehead, Western (the most expensive), Eastern, and Northern have in-state tuition rates comparable to the in-state tuition rates at UGA, UNC, Auburn, and Alabama. The latter four, obviously, are schools with some decent name brand recognition (especially UNC) and are major full-fledged research universities with great presences throughout their entire states. Our regionals are just that, regionals, and many of their graduates won't go on to leave KY (not being snooty here, but they're not the full-fledged research universities that UK and UofL are.)

And yet...UK is barely ranked a first-tier school, year after year, and UofL is ranked a third tier school. UGA, UNC, Auburn, and 'Bama are all top 75 public universities. Hmmmm...

Oh, and as for those more expensive Northern states, Indiana still has two top caliber public universities, Indiana and Purdue. Ohio, Ohio State. Michigan, University of Michigan. Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh and Penn State U. Sure, they might be expensive even for in-staters, but they're well respected. UK and UofL don't really "ooooooh" and "aaaaaah" the minds of many outside of Kentucky.

When you consider that Kentucky public university tuition is now higher than the national average and the rates at which these individual states are increasing their tuition annually (3-7%, on average, for Southern states and 8-15%, on average, for KY,) then I think Kentucky's future in higher education frankly looks bad.

Originally Posted by tibor75

Great idea. And maybe those people in eastern Kentucky who are deathly ill and need of a NICU or advanced life support or high risk surgery should just be left where they are.

Brilliant!

Actually, it is a good idea. I'm tired of seeing gobs of money being dumped on nowhere areas in Eastern Kentucky, but I would love to see an NICU unit placed in Hazard or Prestonsburg. Both are rather central locations.

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by jcm1986

Actually, it is a good idea. I'm tired of seeing gobs of money being dumped on nowhere areas in Eastern Kentucky, but I would love to see an NICU unit placed in Hazard or Prestonsburg. Both are rather central locations.

And good luck attracting more medical specialists to bustling cities like Hazard or (snicker) Prestonsburg.

[EclecticEars]

Originally Posted by tibor75

And good luck attracting more medical specialists to bustling cities like Hazard or (snicker) Prestonsburg.

Good point! Hazard is a little more civilized than Prestonsburg, but not much. Pikeville would be the premier place to put it just going by the population of educated professionals within, but its location is not the best in Eastern Kentucky.

This, by the way, is what happens with the Commonwealth's government doesn't set forth incentives for Eastern Kentucky to rejuvenate its own business, diversify its own economy and start a snowball economic growth of its own. That's the reason EKY has one of the lowest quality of life rankings of anywhere in Kentucky; in many ways, it's brought it upon itself.

East Tennessee and, to a smaller extent, Northeast Georgia have been successful in economic development regard (tourism, baby!) Eastern KY covers a larger geographical area than those other two, by far, and probably has access to the most natural resources. It's a shame really. And...if this initiative ever happens (which it probably won't, since they need "dem dar" tax dollars,) high unemployment rates will lower and the very prevalent quality of life and healthcare issues will begin to improve. Then they won't need our Central KY tax dollars for each and every little thing!!!

And...we can take much of that tax money and bring it back where it belongs, to the cities where infrastructure projects are sorely needed. Like...Louisville and Northern Kentucky!!!

[angela4808]

I was born and raised in Morehead. I personaly at 29 years old prefer the culture of Louisville. As you can see Morehead is a prodominatly caucasion society and does not represent the real world. This is one reason I prefer not to raise my son in this enviroment. I love louisville it has a great zoo several museums and is always doing things to help the area people that Morehead simply does not. To me it is a beautiful city with a hometown feel that I never felt here in morehead. Just an example of the difference me and my cousin broke down her in morehead my cell phone had died we was at the light at the old Wal-mart it took 45 min. for someone to help us we happento have 3 children with us also. All any one did was honk their horns and yell at us.While living in louisville a similar thing happened with my ex-husbands car a couple years later. with in 2 min. 3 hispanics help my husband push the car out of the way and helped him get it running again. So Morehead or Louisville take it from a morehead girl Louisville any day.