[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6465924,"mediaKeyId","5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f","parentId",5837609,"title","Commissioners ask sheriff to explain law-enforcement fund after unbudgeted inmate-housing receipts surface","audioSeconds",236,"startMs",2080000,"endMs",2316000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f&start=2080&end=2316","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f/thumbnail_2080000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6465924/Bourbon-County/Kentucky/Commissioners-ask-sheriff-to-explain-law-enforcement-fund-after-unbudgeted-inmate-housing-receipts-surface","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465924-41911dcd038d484b306f30e0f589e1b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393995&Signature=WZ1oMn3LtU0KJzX8YN2youuX7sqab9zkfbkpkaYY5Mdeohw0L1WKMCNytYPaigL~MIKAxHEBQCNjjm3J7yWIzXH3bo321Dn6vga~bodBBODLg1iV7uVjkFHSKgD0Kv2-waz7T15dNc2jc-EKktce9rGC5R-wQBTWBuXZqrCSlmX1oUzELAvHIXiDUaxjmPr6GXOYWDh3mkUUhyPRiBElBMbkNVfQs2zdM2Im47~jcIzOO3H6DFTjGgJx38UEH20mxQmd~JGlvsz5EdVib7-uE6iKxug-mxtk3vpua6EElWVXVS~uqH1GSlmzL4uh2nZUaflo-dL0OxVkr2d6eUmF-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bourbon County","date","2025-09-24T00:00:00Z","article","Bourbon County commissioners asked the sheriff and the sheriff's financial adviser to appear at the board's next meeting after staff discovered several hundred thousand dollars in inmate-housing receivables that were not included in earlier budget drafts.

County staff briefed the board that the sheriff's office has brought in substantial housing and related reimbursement revenue this year; those receipts were posted to a law-enforcement fund that has been carried separately in county accounting. At least one commissioner and the county clerk said that, under county accounting practice and some interpretations of statute, those receipts normally flow to the general fund and are not held in a separate, discretionary account unless the board has approved that arrangement.

The clerk asked county counsel to draft a short, one-page resolution that would clarify whether the board formally recognizes the law-enforcement fund and the authority for housing revenues to remain in a separate fund. Commissioners agreed to delay any transfer or reallocation of the receipts until the sheriff and the sheriff's finance adviser brief the board and the county attorney and auditing staff can confirm legal and accounting treatment.

Commissioners emphasized they want the sheriff to explain how the revenue has been used to date and whether any liabilities or encumbrances already attach to the funds. The clerk and county staff said they will prepare documentation and transaction histories for the sheriff's review before the meeting so the board can make an informed decision.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bourbon County special Commission Meeting 9-23-25","oneSentenceSummary","County commissioners said they found inmate-housing and related reimbursements not reflected in earlier budget drafts and will require the sheriff and his finance adviser to appear at the next meeting to explain the fund's accounting and legal status.","taxTitle","Bourbon County, Kentucky","taxId",71615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6465928,"Commissioners unanimously approve adding Fort Scott to Freeman sales-tax reporting agreement",145,1515000,1660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f&start=1515&end=1660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f/thumbnail_1515000.jpg","/articles/6465928/Bourbon-County/Kentucky/Commissioners-unanimously-approve-adding-Fort-Scott-to-Freeman-sales-tax-reporting-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465928-deb86d64e0d4381f8d30132b5e832905/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393995&Signature=DsEMitXi7UNWktI5FbTd1yY5Ov1l29pw2G8fm-XDSZEaw46jq28X6nrFZyZOIONf9mfw1G3RbTv3GQIqwDMOHeNnTbK9ZBwF39gPxXcdtWNzWamN9cUc1wH1JIuEisyG04gIodjlB7yvUihUF~9HEG9xVZXqcxQyMaKppSNRfXkPe17ZP3BZPn5MuJlDde4I3IGMgQyDCG~dDOFdlLq2K5ar94RTysk3MUvHapLuqk8g4L-Xt7IGF4S7KdDHHUBOKdiUZyYUO2nWeOVO8EKHEWf3yYwEuJXeNH9nTqoBgF56CyLGD6wzFul~jsZA-0WVjLqNSh1RlWBlvNwfjB0ctw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bourbon County commissioners voted Tuesday to allow the City of Fort Scott to be added to the county's agreement with Freeman, the private entity that receives a portion of county sales-tax revenue tied to a Freeman project. Commissioners said the company and city jointly funded early construction and that adding the city to quarterly reporting will provide transparency about expenditures.

Under the amendment discussed at the meeting, the city would get the same quarterly reports of Freeman's sales-tax-funded receipts and expenditures that the county receives. Commissioners said Freeman contributed to initial construction and the city provided a majority of the initial $1.1 million payment noted in the meeting.

County staff said Freeman had agreed to the reporting change and would route the revised contract language to Freeman's legal counsel and the city manager, Brad Mackin, for review and signature. The motion was moved by the presiding commissioner and approved by voice vote; the transcript records a voice \"aye\" and no opposed votes were recorded on the floor.

Commissioners directed staff to notify the city manager and follow up to ensure the county and Freeman have matching reporting procedures going forward.","Bourbon County commissioners agreed to amend the Freeman agreement so the City of Fort Scott will receive quarterly sales-tax reports tied to Freeman project revenue; Freeman will seek legal review before finalizing the amendment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6465933,"Bourbon County commissioners press for deeper budget cuts while leaving some departmental funding intact",2504,1472000,3976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f&start=1472&end=3976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f/thumbnail_1472000.jpg","/articles/6465933/Bourbon-County/Kentucky/Bourbon-County-commissioners-press-for-deeper-budget-cuts-while-leaving-some-departmental-funding-intact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465933-7a15b80cb96d61562e7f9a68be4f9fbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393995&Signature=b7e~VptUt8sVbygxaRTbNWbcbWtnuu~JKwj6j3DrJQNBMvY5rMHjEbTN1dvOPPQ7f1FVuPEhHt9teaxHhAVzquq7t6knvWY446-q5YKr9agNg32WqFFI5gyQka3kiNB-SX61RAO2ZdxStyBPGknF2djrboOImCAwC-TPXZ9e-FWfFbS4gpzgXJ3NJH01xda9q1R9IDtYwcveQQJ2wliFXSBfeMpxZxZ9opla9AQ7XGIfI~GFlNZq8mBMVMxZ0NvMz-2lxpMmrTDd3BbXpqHIc690BSIjvHoFf0GZ9~NQMlCn1-jc9T9fpdZESuIDSJTTe7D7HiXIdepYnfjk6y4~yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bourbon County commissioners met for more than three hours Tuesday in Fort Scott to continue work trimming the county's 2026 budget toward a revenue-neutral levy, focusing debate on information-technology contracts, emergency-preparedness staffing and several outside agency contributions.

Commissioners and staff said they have reduced proposed spending from earlier drafts but still face roughly $100,000 to $190,000 in additional reductions or transfers to reach the commission's target. Commissioners and the county clerk repeatedly emphasized the need to preserve statutory obligations and leave core services intact while testing one-time and structural savings.

The meeting reviewed a long list of proposed cuts. Commissioners agreed they could safely reduce some IT costs by outsourcing managed services and trimming benefits tied to vacant positions, and they discussed moving the emergency-preparedness post from full time to part time or sharing services with neighboring counties to shave roughly $10,000 from that line and further reduce benefits expense. Commissioners said vacant positions were the least painful place to find savings because they did not immediately reduce employee headcount.

Budget staff and consultants walked commissioners through line-by-line changes and highlighted several accounting issues that complicated comparisons with prior years. Commissioners asked staff to compare the working draft they produced during earlier sessions with the original 2025 budget numbers and with the Budget Advisory Committee's (BAC) recommendations to show the effects of each set of adjustments.

Several department heads and the clerk's staff told commissioners some functions have limited scope for cuts. For example, the treasurer and clerk explained certain legally required web postings and public notices make some expense lines inflexible. Commissioners said they would not cut items that state statute requires to be funded.

Outside-agency contributions were another point of contention. Commissioners said they had previously trimmed most charitable and nonprofit allocations and restored some where state matching or statutory relationships apply; the board left in place a previously agreed contribution for several organizations while deciding to reduce or reconsider others on a case-by-case basis.

The board directed staff to finish a revised working draft of the budget and to bring sheriff's office financial details to the next regular meeting so commissioners could decide how to treat recent, unbudgeted inmate-housing receipts and whether those revenues should remain in a law-enforcement fund the sheriff currently controls or be transferred to the general fund. Staff and several commissioners said the sheriff and his finance adviser should be present for that conversation.

The session closed with commissioners agreeing to reconvene on Monday to finalize any outstanding issues and to sign a formal budget document for publication. Commissioners said they expected to finish remaining reconciliations, confirm restricted revenue streams, and verify calculations before adopting a final 2026 levy.","Commissioners spent a marathon meeting narrowing the county's 2026 spending plan, debating cuts to IT, emergency preparedness and nonprofit contributions, and postponing a decision on surplus inmate-housing revenue until the sheriff can brief the board.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6465919,"Commissioners agree elected-official access for county website and social accounts, ask web vendor for statement of work",693,692000,1385000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f&start=692&end=1385","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5837609-d54f114452bba81ea5268e058fb3273f/thumbnail_692000.jpg","/articles/6465919/Bourbon-County/Kentucky/Commissioners-agree-elected-official-access-for-county-website-and-social-accounts-ask-web-vendor-for-statement-of-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6465919-8ad29da8d7b2474663e54b2201872a17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770393995&Signature=gbPBHGfUil8Hy7fsPFd1pGcUn~1r2kY~1UHHZbTG2LFL9OWKfSUvpRzbPm9wiPiVvKj0CP1JcCskTGFgmNidV3apTMXxSVg86rKOLjij3wn~6n80bEybJswu1snN8oLnUyXNBufTXmgdYoWHKjMJHnEuJcxVM6eB0tS-yCkwbjGoPu9OmABiiScrfwqvEM5lTtEQYXeOwZ9PXHopSPs7QqBksqSN87~vkv-7RhdUNFk5UAprAW8R-M0TArbmB56JurgIYxSwRM-P1XNIaiBB~OPY880csuLnU8lIZwELEBNPaC3XhiziLfGk-fshz0PXD9p7K3io7j-eQXowMw8GHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bourbon County commissioners discussed who should control the county's website, Facebook page and other online accounts and agreed that elected officials need reliable access and continuity on those platforms.

County Clerk Jennifer said she and staff have administrative roles now but that some accounts appear to be missing or have access problems; the county's web vendor holds the hosting and primary administration keys, and the clerk suggested asking the vendor for a statement of work (SOW) that describes hosting, backup and support services billed in the annual invoice.

Commissioners discussed adding multiple elected officials as administrators of the Facebook page and the web portal so the accounts would not be lost when an individual leaves office. The board also asked staff to investigate passwords and account ownership; one commissioner said the existing Bourbon County Facebook page could not currently be accessed by several officials and recommended recreating the page if access cannot be restored.

Commissioners asked the webmaster for a copy of the contract and for details of the monthly support hours and services included. No formal vote was recorded; the board reported reaching a consensus to proceed with multiple elected-official access and to request contract and SOW documentation from the vendor.","The board discussed access to the county website and social-media accounts and agreed elected officials should have continuity on accounts; commissioners asked the county's contracted webmaster for a statement of work and planned to add multiple elected officials as administrators for continuity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners ask sheriff to explain law-enforcement fund after unbudgeted inmate-housing receipts surface

Commissioners unanimously approve adding Fort Scott to Freeman sales-tax reporting agreement

Bourbon County commissioners press for deeper budget cuts while leaving some departmental funding intact

Commissioners agree elected-official access for county website and social accounts, ask web vendor for statement of work