Rep. Tanya Pullin, D-South Shore (98th District), says it took a lot of work and long hours, but the new Kentucky budget, allocates $3 million dollars in projects for the Greenup County (Ky.) area.

"I was able to get $200,000 for general sewer upgrades and expansions in South Shore (Ky.)," Pullin said. "They can use that money for either lines or at the plant. It is really at their discretion as to how they use it."

In addition to those upgrades, work is being done that was financed from the preceding budget.

"We were able to get nearly three-quarters-of-a-million dollars in the last budget for the Storm Water Collection System. That will really help with the flooding downtown," Pullin said. "People will notice backhoes working right down the middle of the street, and that is the work financed by the funds we got in the last budget. That is a really big project."

Another project Pullin said is important to the Greenup area is the expansion of the veteran's cemetery at Greenup.

"They made a decision they wanted to purchase additional land. The VA (Veterans Administration) had asked for the additional land, so we were able to put in this budget the money to purchase nearly 80 more acres," she said. "And something else significant in that budget is that it sets a timeline by appropriating the money to pay the first employee, who will be the manager."

Pullin said another important project she received funding for is the McKell Branch of the Greenup County Library.

"We got $50,000 toward the expansion of the meeting room at the branch," she said. "We have a very good library in Greenup County, because we support it with matching funds."

The budget is in two parts. The first begins on July 1, 2008, and runs through July 1, 2009, and the second part will run from 2009 to 2010.

"It amounts to $9 billion in '08 to '09 and $9 billion in '09 to '10," Pullin said. "In Kentucky, the governor (Steve Beshear) has the power of line item veto, and he vetoed a few things from the package but he did not touch any funds earmarked for Greenup County."

She said members of the house worked late into the night Tuesday, because they were pushing up against the end of the current session.

"I am tickled to death to get $3 million for Greenup County," Pullin said. "Especially for the various water and sewage projects which are much needed."

FRANK LEWIS can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232.