First vote on budget expected Wednesday

Published 5:34 pm Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Clark County magistrates are scheduled to vote on the $14.9 million budget for the coming fiscal year in a special meeting Wednesday.

The meeting will be at 8 a.m. Wednesday. No other items are on the agenda.

The first vote was scheduled for the court’s regular meeting May 10. Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said magistrate Greg Elkins will be out of town May 10 and wanted to be present for the first reading and requested a special meeting.

Email newsletter signup

The county, as well as the City of Winchester, must approve a second reading of the budget by June 30, the last day of the current fiscal year. The county, though, is required to submit a balanced budget to the state local finance officer for review following a successful first reading. Any changes made by the state finance officer can not be changed, though the court can alter other areas of the budget prior to a second reading.

The local finance officer has 20 days to review the county’s budget.

The proposed budget is about $200,000 more than the budget approved a year ago.

Of the $14.9 million budget, nearly $9 million is in the general fund. The road fund has slightly less than $2.2 million and the jail fund involved nearly $3 million.

In discussion during last week’s meeting, the magistrates made several changes, including cutting its budgeted payments for EMS and 911 services by $50,000 and $60,000 from budgeted transfers to the county jail fund. They also decided to eliminate $98,000 for a new dump truck for the road department. Those funds were reallocated within the road department’s budget.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

email author More by Fred