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By Government Editor on Steve Beshear

By Jack Brammer - jbrammer@herald-leader.com FRANKFORT? The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled that the governor and state legislators can't transfer money to the state's General Fund from accounts where public and private dollars are co-mingled. The ruling on Thursday, written by Deputy Chief Justice Will T. Scott for the majority, said political leaders cannot transfer money to the General Fund, which pays for most state programs, after it has been put into workers' compensation and similar accounts because they have received contributions from private employers. The decision would apply to any state government accounts that contain both public and private money. But government accounts containing solely public money can be tapped for the General Fund. Kerri Richardson, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the governor's office appreciates the court's ruling at a time "when our economic outlook is so bleak, and the governor and legislators must work together... to create a responsible budget to carry Kentucky forward."

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