Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Effect Of Trust And The Covid-19 Pandemic On Nonprofit Collaboration With Food Insecurity Services In Kentucky, Aaron Brewer

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Food insecurity in Kentucky is at a crisis point. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters, it has only gotten worse. Nonprofit organizations that focus on food insecurity are fighting to fill the gap between federal and state programs but still struggle to find enough resources as demand grows. In order to help achieve their strategic missions, organizations often engage in collaboration with one another. The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the landscape of many services and businesses across the world and certainly in Kentucky. Food insecurity organizations were faced with new challenges because of the health …

What Impact Does The Nursing Shortages Have On The Financial Health Of The Kentucky Healthcare System?, Michelle Cooper

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This study investigates how the nursing shortage affects the financial health of healthcare systems. Further, it examines the economic impact that healthcare systems face due to the nursing shortage and what they are doing to cope during this time to meet their nursing staff needs. The study focuses on hospitals in Kentucky and compares Kentucky to other states in the United States. This research aims to determine how the nursing shortage financially impacts Kentucky hospitals. The main question that this research paper will address is what impact do the nursing shortages have on the financial health of the healthcare system? …

Evaluating Pharmacy Student Opinions Of The Kentucky Professionals Recovery Network, Abby Kosharek

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Healthcare professionals have similar rates of substance use disorders as the general population. Healthcare professionals are in a unique position because their substance use disorder affects them and may affect their patients. Substance use disorders among healthcare professionals can result in lawsuits and loss of licensure. Kentucky Professionals Recovery Network (KYPRN) provides healthcare professionals with substance use disorders services and programs to help them recover from their disorder. Unfortunately, the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy no longer provides education on the Kentucky Professionals Recovery Network in its formal curriculum. Instead, students are expected to gain this knowledge via experiential …

Evaluating The Shift From Income Taxes To Sales And Use Taxes In Kentucky, Benton Kirby

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

House Bill 8 is set up to lower the state's individual income tax from 5% down to 0%. The bill is set up when revenue and rainy-day funds reach a certain level. The state's individual income tax will decrease each year the requirements are met. In addition, the bill has several services that will be subject to the state sales tax to raise tax revenues to offset the revenue loss that decreasing the state income tax would impact the state. However, the Kentucky Legislature Research Committee estimates that the fiscal impact of a net loss of $1.15 billion of tax …

Economic Development Plans: Creating Remote Worker Incentive Programs, Sadie Barton

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The decrease in population growth is impacting states and localities across the United States and is anticipated to continue in the future. To address this issue, some areas have created remote worker incentive programs to attract new residents as part of their economic development plans. Although few programs existed before 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic created an opportunity for employees to work remotely more than any other time in history. This resulted in a significant increase in remote worker incentive programs being created. These programs are designed to attract new residents to their area which in turn will have economic impacts …

Medicaid Expansion: The Choice Afforded To States By The Affordable Care Act, Robert M. Hatfield

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The issue I studied is the decision states have been afforded to expand Medicaid with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I was curious to determine the health and economic impact on states that have and have not chosen to expand Medicaid. Specifically, I targeted Kentucky (expansion state) and Tennessee (non-expansion state). Tennessee and Kentucky are similar populations, have similar political inclinations, and are both very rural states. At its core, Medicaid expansion is an opportunity to improve health for lower-income and disabled Americans. However, there are economic implications associated with Medicaid expansion as well. The goal of this research is …

Prevalence Of Alcohol-Interactive Medications And Conditions With Concurrent Alcohol Use In Older Adults, Jackson Hull

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Many prescription medications can either directly or indirectly interact with alcohol and many chronic conditions may be worsened by alcohol use. Medications, such as antihypertensives, anticoagulants, and gastrointestinal agents, can be dangerous when taken with alcohol and can lead to loss of consciousness, falls, serious bleeding and other issues. Chronic conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension and cirrhosis can directly be worsened with alcohol consumption. These potential complications are pertinent to all ages, but there is greater concern of these interactions in older adults, defined as adults over 65 years old. Using survey data from older adults in Lexington, …

Forced Treatment Orders With Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics: Are They Forcing Implicit Biases?, Hunter Matthews

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Involuntary treatment is a lengthy legal process through which an individual that is deemed to be a danger to themselves or to others is forced to receive psychiatric treatment against their will. Often, involuntary treatment utilizes a medication called a long-acting injectable antipsychotic (LAI). With the rise of implicit bias awareness as of late, there has been new research showing that Black patients receive LAIs at disproportionate rates compared to White patients. There has not been research, however, to show the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training of healthcare providers on the utilization rate of LAIs among the …

Analysis Of Regulatory Options To Reduce Ethylene Oxide Emissions In Southern Louisiana, Claire Oyler

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Toxic chemicals are dangerous when exposed directly to humans but are often vital for the production of goods and services. Ethylene Oxide is a carcinogenic gas used as a commercial sterilizer and emitted during the manufacturing process of common household goods. The term fence-line communities describes the residents living adjacent to facilities emitting toxic chemicals into the air. Several predominately minority, low-income fence-line communities in Southern Louisiana are exposed to higher than average levels of Ethylene Oxide from nearby manufacturing facilities. This raises environmental justice and overall public health concerns in the area. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged …

University Of Kentucky Sustainability Strategic Plan, Sophie Beavin

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Global climate change is impacting ecosystems, communities, and economies and will continue to do so into the future. To address these issues, sustainable practices and policies are needed on the local and global scale. At the University of Kentucky, sustainability implies that actions are ecologically sound, socially just, and economically viable. Harmonizing these three aspects is critical when developing and implementing sustainability goals on campus. The Office of Sustainability is responsible for coordinating and implementing sustainability policies, actions, and programs for the University of Kentucky. In 2017, they released the first Sustainability Strategic Plan that set goals through 2022. The …

Building An Academic Partnership Through A Strategic Plan: University Of Kentucky Auxiliary Services, Sally Martin

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Auxiliary Services department at the University of Kentucky (UK) is a far-reaching department on campus that contains everything from housing to dining to events. If there is an office or activity on campus that provides a service to a student, staff or faculty member, it is most likely within Auxiliary Service’s jurisdiction. Some of the departments and/or offices that fall under this umbrella include all residence halls, dining locations, the Gatton Student Center, University Events Management, and the UK Bookstore. Auxiliary Services also manages the partnerships with external companies that provide services to the campus like housing (Greystar), dining …

Financial Condition Analysis: Louisville Orchestra, Louisville Ballet And Speed Art Museum, Andrew Pashoian

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Many factors can affect the financial status of a nonprofit entity, but at the core level, financial condition is the ability for an organization (for-profit or not-for-profit) to meet current and future financial commitments. Moreover, further insight into this definition is more complex in nature according to some academics. Maher, Ebdon, and Bartle (2020) mention definitions for financial condition that focus on time. For example, short-term financial health typically focuses on the ability to meet obligations in a 30 to 60-day period with cash on hand. Long term financial condition includes the capacity for an organization to meet annual obligations …

The Occurrence Of Cross Border Riverboat Casino Gambling Between Illinois And Indiana, Andrew N. Jenkins

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Casino and sports gambling implementation has been a hotly debated topic in recent years as several states have passed legislation allowing it. Most states have had some form of gambling in their state for years even if it is the lottery; however, riverboat gambling is legal in six states. These casinos offering table and electronic gaming are legal as long are they remain moored on the shoreline. For example, table games take the form of poker or blackjack and electronic gaming takes the form of slots. While the introduction of casino gaming produces large annual tax payments, players do not …

Examining Ky Hb8 For 2022: What Can We Learn From Other States’ Experiences?, Patrick Welsh

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Currently, Kentucky levies an individual income tax on all income earned by Kentucky residents at a rate of 5%. A bill approved in 2022 by the Kentucky legislature, KY HB8 for 2022 will phase down the individual income tax rate from 5% to 0% and expand the sales tax to 39 additional classes of services. Incremental decreases in the individual income tax rate depend on meeting General Fund receipts thresholds established in the bill after an initial reduction of one percentage point. Kentucky will join the ranks of 9 other states that do not impose an individual income tax including …

Irs Form 990 And Opportunity For Improvement, Sarah Bocklen

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In the contemporary world, IRS Form 990 returns are increasingly being used to source data about the nonprofit sector, which have critical in enhancing the community's social welfare. However, there has been a considerable debate concerning the adequacy, reliability, and quality of the data contained in the document. This study incorporated a total of 150 nonprofit entities from the US to investigate the adequacy, reliability, and quality of Form 990 returns. I used both quantitative and qualitative research methods to evaluate the consistency in the selected data. Selected entries were used for analysis and compared with those of audited financial …

Effects Of Emergency Medical Service Funding Policies In Kentucky, Amber Moreland

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Emergency medical services is a complicated component in local Kentucky governments. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operated and managed by local government have various funding mechanisms and each have different methods of reporting. This paper reviews the various ways EMS is funded in Kentucky along with the impact these different funding strategies have on quality and delivery of emergency medical services.

Statewide Educational Achievement Goals: How Has Kentucky’S 60x30 Goal Affected Postsecondary Credential Completion?, Cameron Childress

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

During the past decade, several states have adopted statewide educational attainment goals. Kentucky’s 60x30 goal seeks to credential 60% of the adult population in the state by 2030, bringing Kentucky closer to the national average. Using a difference-in-differences empirical strategy I compare Kentucky to a control group of states from 2010-2019 in order to understand statewide gains in varying levels of postsecondary achievement, and in what subsamples of the population the largest gains have been made. The results indicate that Kentucky has been successful in increasing educational attainment compared to states who have not adopted an educational attainment goal, and …

An Analysis Of Tennessee’S New Medicaid Waiver: Tenncare Iii, Mary Moore

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Medicaid is a federal-state partnership to provide health coverage benefits to certain vulnerable groups. Each state is responsible for administering its own Medicaid program in accordance with certain federal rules which include mandatory benefits for covered groups, namely, low-income children and their parents and aged, blind, and disabled individuals. There are additional groups which may be covered by Medicaid at the discretion of the state. As a partnership, the federal government covers a certain percentage of Medicaid expenditures in each state. This agreed upon rate is the federal medical assistance percentage or FMAP. Tennessee’s FMAP is set at 66.1% for …

Inter-State Variability Of Pharmacist Recovery Network Policies And Practice, Lindsey Porter

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Recovery Networks (PRNs) are state organizations, typically associated with a licensing Board of Pharmacy to aid in recovery and monitoring of pharmacists with substance use disorders with the intention of providing an avenue for pharmacy professionals with infractions to return to practice. However, there is significant variation in the structure, funding, and leadership of these organizations leading to high variability in how they serve that purpose and their efficacy in doing so in a rehabilitative fashion. The purpose of this project was to assess, in twenty-five strategically chosen US states, PRN structure, function, and perceptions of Directors regarding allowance of …

Study On The Effectiveness Of Childbirth Grant Policy In Korea, Myung Goo Lee

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

South Korea was once a typical high birth country. However, Korea is facing serious low birth rates recently as the total fertility rate is 0.98, which means that the Korean couple has less than one child on average. The rapid demographic change due to low fertility causes many negative effects such as economic vitality and welfare burden. Thus, the Korean governments have introduced various policies to overcome the low birth rate, and one of these is the childbirth grant policy: governments provide a certain amount of cash when a family within its jurisdiction gives birth. However, the world's lowest fertility …

Examining The Impact Of Performance-Based Funding Equity Premiums On Public Historically Black Colleges And Universities, Adam Blevins

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Performance-based funding (PBF) policies in the United States have grown both in complexity and popularity over the last two decades. While states seek to utilize these models to enforce accountability at institutions of postsecondary education, the rise of such funding policies has not come without scrutiny. Researchers have found evidence of adverse consequences resulting from these policies, many of which disproportionately impact underrepresented groups of students, smaller schools, and minority-serving institutions (MSIs) such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). While opponents of the policies have, in some cases, called for the abandonment of PBF models altogether, proponents have sought …

Financial Trends In Kentucky’S Full Service Jails Fy07 To Fy19, Kayla Carter

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Research on jail finances in the United States, in general, and Kentucky, specifically, has been lacking. This capstone describes trends in jail finances in Kentucky. It also examines the legal requirement to house certain state inmates in county jails and the financial burden of this requirement on counties. Uniform Financial Information Reports (UFIRs) data from 58 counties in Kentucky was used to descriptively analyze financial trends in full service jails from fiscal years 2007 to 2019. This data was combined with Kentucky Department of Corrections jail population data from fiscal years 2012 to 2019 to compare financial trends with the …

Effects Of Covid-19 On Sports Program Offerings At Ncaa Division I Institutions, Jason Schlafer

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

COVID-19 on Sports Program Offerings at NCAA Division I Institutions 2 Executive Summary In the past 40 years, the cost of operating a competitive college athletics department that competes for an institution within a Power Five conference the highest level of intercollegiate competition- has risen drastically. Concurrently, opportunities to compete at the highest level have expanded, especially for women who now outnumber men in Division I athletics competition. As COVID-19 constrained revenue, five institutions from Power Five conferences have discontinued 23 sports programs to date. This paper addresses how decision makers determine which sports programs to eliminate and offers recommendations …

Developing Best Practices For Successful Public-Private Partnerships, Farishta Mccourt

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Many states and cities find themselves facing several serious long‐term public infrastructure challenges due to rising maintenance costs. Infrastructure funding gaps arose from an inefficient approach to public infrastructure development and operation. States and local governments were faced with unfunded pension obligations and as a solution, they diverted tax revenues away from the maintenance and growth of infrastructure. The 2008 economic recession occurred and compounded these problems. Budget studies indicated that states needed new policies and strategies to slow down the pace of spending on infrastructure maintenance as the recession started to subside, further exacerbating the infrastructure funding gap.1 This …

Child Welfare Spending And Rates Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Wesley Scott

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

State and federal child welfare represents a major spending category in budgets across the United States. While new and revised legislation is proposed and enacted, sweeping reforms of the child welfare system is uncommon. Changes to child welfare are implemented through budget line items, whether that comes from Congressional funding or state initiatives. Increased funding allows for more direct contact and interaction with children, prompting safer environments and potentially stronger academic and social-emotional outcomes for youth. This paper looks at the relationship between the per capita funding of child welfare services per state and the rate of adverse childhood experiences …

Funding For Postsecondary Education Impacts Kentucky’S Undergraduate Enrollment Trends, Michaela Mineer

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, public universities have consistently seen their state funding decrease over the past several years. Using data from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and Kentucky Office of State Budget Director, this paper analyzes the relationship among postsecondary education state and federal funding and full-time undergraduate student enrollment in Kentucky’s 4-year public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. According to the Courier Journal, in 2019 “Kentucky was 1 of only 5 states to cut money for higher education” (Watkins). With the fluctuation of higher education funding in Kentucky, the concern is how universities …

Communication Strategies’ Impact On Finances At Kentucky Higher Education Institutions During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jacob Most

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky public higher education institutions faced a financial cliff with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (Capilouto, 2021 Jan.). Campuses across the state closed in spring 2020, with the list of unknowns outnumbering the knowns by a significant margin (Monday, E., Blanton, J., and Kiser, K., 2021). In the face of an unknown future, administrations at Kentucky institutes of higher education relied upon communication strategies more than ever to outline Universities’ plans for reopening, reinvented operational plans, outlining contingencies, and fulfilling an invaluable role in efforts to test, contact trace and eventually vaccinate campus and broader community populations. This project …

Special Taxing Districts: An Analysis Of States’ Oversight & Accountability Practices And How Kentucky Could Adopt Best Practices For More Accountability, Kelly Dockter

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Special districts are forms of government that were initially developed from the need to provide specialized services to a growing population with limited tax abilities. Local governments were faced with increasing populations and increasing needs such as health and human services, conservation, sanitation and water, and fire protection to name a few. With the states’ limitations on the tax rate changes, local governments were finding it increasingly difficult to meet the needs of the taxpayers. In many states, legislators recognized this issue and allowed single purpose government-like entities to be created and if they qualified, gave them taxing power. Despite …

Analysis Of Tax Increment Financing (Tif) Usage And State Requirements, Joseph Black

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Tax Increment Financing(TIF)is one of the most popular economic development tools in use, as well as one of the few economic development tools available to municipal governments. Although it was slow to be adopted by many states, currently every state, as well as the District of Colombia, has active TIF districts to back over $35 billion in bonds across the country. Despite its popularity, there is no consensus on the ability of TIF to create a planned and measurable outcome. Because of this ambiguity, TIF usage is clustered across the country as state legislatures have put in varying requirements to …

The Impact Of Corporate Tax On Investment In South Korea, Hyoungchul Lee

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in reformed corporate tax, which is the new establishment of the highest bracket affecting on only companies with 300 billion won or more of sales. However, it caused a great controversy in Korea. The conservative argues that lowering corporate tax rate will improve corporate competitiveness while the progressive says that corporate taxes are neutral in corporate investment decisions.

According to an economic model, the amount of an entity's investment is determined by costs and returns when an additional unit of capital is used. Assuming taxes are raised with depreciation and deductions, it …