Fiscal Court

There was a distinct lack of interest in Tuesday's public meeting at the courthouse to discuss the prospect of the Fiscal Court raising property and vehicle taxes to generate an additional four percent of revenue for the county. Only two taxpayers showed up and the Fiscal Court was down one magistrate. Jerry Shelton of Crab Orchard was one of the two in attendance and took advantage of the open forum to share his philosophy with magistrates before they vote next Tuesday on the tax increase issue.

Now that a local special interest group has been successful in securing a reversal of the 2010 vote establishing a commissioner system for county government, it is perhaps time for that group or its successor to prepare for one additional battle. First, it should be noted that the group was successful through the ideal democratic process, accumulating the required number of registered voter signatures on a petition to get the question on the ballot and presenting that petition within the required time limit.

LANCASTER - One resident's idea to build a veterans monument in Lancaster has gained traction among Garrard County residents. Jeff Adams, 53, briefed an enthusiastic Fiscal Court on Monday on his plan to organize a committee to oversee the project, and Magistrates Doan Adkison and Fred Simpson jumped to volunteer for the group. “I think it's important for it be put in the right place in the right way,” Simpson said about the monument, which will ideally include the names of Garrard County natives and transplants, living and deceased who served during or after World War I. The Fiscal Court also unanimously approved Judge-Executive John Wilson's request to open a bank account to deposit donations for the tribute.

Boyle County Fiscal Court voted to a 25 percent increase in employee health insurance prices - not as much as had been proposed - in a meeting postponed three hours due to a bomb threat at the courthouse. Following an evacuation of the building for what turned out to be a false alarm, the court voted to raise health insurance deductibles for employee medical plans by 25 percent. The amount individual employees have to pay for medical care within the plan's network of providers before the insurance benefits kick in was increased from $200 to $250.

Teresa Robbins, of Stanford, was back in Fiscal Court Tuesday to ask magistrates why they had not moved forward on her request for them to hold a meeting to discuss problems she sees with the Lincoln County Public Library. Robbins last appeared on Feb. 14 representing a group of library patrons that wanted the current board members removed from office. Citing Kentucky law, Robbins told magistrates that it was in their power to remove board members in cases of inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance or conflict of interest.

Two Lincoln County magistrates say they would like to see Dexter Todd's wife appointed to serve in his place as magistrate until a special election can be held. Magistrate David Faulkner said Tuesday afternoon he and Magistrate Joe Stanley agree it would be the right move to fill Todd's empty seat with Brenda Todd. Dexter Todd died April 19 at the age of 59 after becoming seriously ill following an out-patient procedure at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center in Danville.

The Clark County Fiscal Court on Wednesday approved a $1.5 million budget for the Sheriff’s Office, which includes a cost-of-living raise for employees. According to estimates, personnel costs will constitute the bulk of expenses in the 2011 calendar year. Sheriff Berl Perdue expects to spend around $752,000 on employee salaries and close to $87,000 for the sheriff’s position. Another $98,000 is allocated for benefits. Perdue also factored in a 3 percent across-the-board raise for employees, but said he may forego raises next year if the economy fails to improve.

The Jessamine County Fiscal Court discussed many budget items, including a recent request made by the Jessamine Humane Society. Attorney David Marshall, representing the humane society, appeared before the fiscal court April 3 to ask the court for more funding in the coming year. The court increased funding for the humane society in 2005, giving it $53,333, which was $19,000 more than in 2004. Last year, the humane society received $52,500 from the fiscal court. Marshall told magistrates the humane society needed an increase of an additional $35,000 per year to stay in operation.

The Jessamine County Fiscal Court has a more than $5 million unencumbered cash balance, according to a financial statement approved at its meeting last Tuesday. The statement, which reflects the court's financial condition as of Feb. 28, 2013, shows the court has brought in more than $18 million in receipts so far for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, including almost $2 million in real property taxes and more than $3.5 million in occupational license fees. The court has paid out more than $12 million in claims, according to the report.

Reporter Katheran Wasson and Community Editor Rachel Parsons discuss a fiscal court work session Monday morning, and the possible announcement of the high school location at Tuesday's school board meeting.