Kentucky · Infrastructure & Trust
Rainy Day Fund in Kentucky
State rainy-day savings balance as a percent of annual general fund spending, as self-reported by states to NASBO.
30% in 2025
#5 of 50 · Top tier (higher is better)
Kentucky is better than the 50-state median (13%). That's a gap of 17%.
View interactive chart & trend → See full 50-state ranking →
2000 – 2025 · Kentucky only · interactive chart with US median overlay →
About rainy day fund
What this measures: State rainy-day savings balance as a percent of annual general fund spending.
Why it matters: Rainy day funds are the buffer that keeps schools and services running through recessions without emergency tax hikes or cuts.
Watch out: Covers the named stabilization fund only. Some states keep additional reserves in other accounts that are not counted here.
Recent trend
| Year | Kentucky | US median |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2.3% | 5.3% |
| 2017 | 1.3% | 5.6% |
| 2018 | 0.8% | 6.6% |
| 2019 | 1.1% | 7.9% |
| 2020 | 2.6% | 8.4% |
| 2021 | 15% | 10% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | 11% |
| 2023 | 26% | 12% |
| 2024 | 37% | 15% |
| 2025 | 30% | 13% |
Kentucky vs. neighboring states
Same metric (rainy day fund), latest year with full state coverage. Click any name for that state's full report.
| State | Rainy Day Fund | National rank |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 8.0% | #43 of 50 |
| Ohio | 13% | #28 of 50 |
| West Virginia | 23% | #9 of 50 |
| Virginia | 13% | #26 of 50 |
| Tennessee | 9.3% | #39 of 50 |
| Missouri | 6.8% | #45 of 50 |
How Kentucky compares (2025)
Top 5 best
| #1 | Wyoming | 8770% |
| #2 | Alaska | 4240% |
| #3 | Idaho | 4060% |
| #4 | North Dakota | 3780% |
| #5 | Kentucky | 3030% |
Bottom 5
| #46 | Rhode Island | 630% |
| #47 | Delaware | 500% |
| #48 | Illinois | 430% |
| #49 | Washington | 350% |
| #50 | New Jersey | 0.0% |
Source and methodology
Source: NASBO Fiscal Survey · Direction: higher is better · Unit: %
Download raw CSV (all 50 states, all years)