Bullitt County Fiscal Court adopts $43 million 2025–26 budget, cites 10% tax cut and uneven raises

Bullitt County Fiscal Court approved Ordinance 25-17, the county budget for fiscal year 2025–26, during its June 17 meeting, adopting a plan the county says includes an overall 10% tax cut and appropriations across multiple funds. The court approved the measure on a motion by Judge Jerrall Summers, seconded by Magistrate Vera Sanders; the vote was recorded as unanimous.

The budget matters because it sets county spending priorities for services such as roads, the jail, emergency medical services and capital projects, and it includes salary increases for county employees that several magistrates questioned. Magistrate Brian Bleemel raised concerns about unequal raises, saying some employees received increases of about 5% while others received up to 19% and that some part‑time employees were paid more than full‑time staff in the same job categories. Chief Financial Officer Keith Griffee replied that the higher increases were primarily for department heads to keep salaries competitive and that the budget includes the proposed salaries so the court could approve the budget and later reduce any specific increases if desired.

Under the ordinance’s summary, appropriations are shown by fund. The general fund totals $18,843,800; the road fund totals $4,848,882; the jail fund totals $6,461,616; other funds listed include LGEA, federal grants, EMS, clerk storage and opioid funds. The ordinance text indicates the proposed budget was tentatively approved June 3, 2025, and approved as to form and classification by the State Local Finance Officer on June 13, 2025. The ordinance is recorded as Ordinance No. 25‑17, “An Ordinance relating to the Budget of Bullitt County for Fiscal Year 2025–2026.”

The court also approved routine fiscal items earlier in the meeting: minutes from the June 3 regular session were approved (motion by Magistrate Vera Sanders, seconded by Magistrate Karen Johnson), the Treasurer’s Transfers/Expenditures report was accepted (motion by Sanders, seconded by Magistrate Brian Bleemel), open invoice claims totaling $747,962.85 were approved for payment (motion by Sanders, seconded by Bleemel), and the Treasurer’s May financial reports were accepted (motion by Magistrate Karen Johnson, seconded by Bleemel). All those measures were reported as approved by unanimous vote.

Magistrate Bleemel’s questions about pay equity remained on the record; the court did not change individual salary amounts at the June 17 session and Griffee said the court could revisit specific increases later. The adopted budget document lists contingency appropriations and fringe benefit totals and shows a grand total for all funds of $43,016,667.

Records and the adopted ordinance are on file with the Bullitt County Clerk’s Office.