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Daviess County fiscal court holds first reading of 2025–26 budget; amendment to add $500,000 drainage line item fails
Summary
At the May 8, 2025 first reading of the Daviess County fiscal year 2025–26 budget, a motion to add a $500,000 line item for drainage maintenance failed on a 2–2 tie after debate among commissioners and public comment urging more maintenance funding.
Daviess County officials on May 8 held the first reading of the county's fiscal year 2025'1, 2025'26 budget and debated a proposed amendment to add a drainage maintenance line item. Commissioner Marksberry moved to add the line item and Commissioner Conder seconded; the revised proposal to reserve $500,000 failed on a 2'2 tie vote.
The amendment mattered because several commissioners and members of the public said recent heavy rains and flooding have highlighted unmet drainage and road maintenance needs. County Treasurer Mr. Johnson read the budget summary into the record and said the budget assumes a 2.9% cost-of-living adjustment and the retirement contribution rates published by the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority.
Mr. Johnson said the proposed appropriations by fund include: General Fund $60,274,222; Road Fund $6,275,100; Jail Fund $11,546,724; Local Government Economic Assistance fund $137,500; Economic Development Fund $1,770,000; Bond Fund $3,066,700; Solid Waste Fund $26,768,180; County Clerk Permanent Storage Fees $381,000, for a total of $110,219,426. He told the court the detailed budget is available for public inspection in the county judge executive's office during regular business hours and that adoption will be on the second reading June 5, 2025.
Commissioner Marksberry said the drainage line item was intended as a placeholder to make funds available for legally permissible maintenance projects. "I ran on fixing the drainage," Marksberry said. Commissioner Conder explained he seconded the motion so the court could hold discussion. Judge Executive Charlie Caslin opposed adding unspecified funds to the budget without a specific plan, saying he did not "support putting money just in a holding place." Caslin then called for a roll-call vote; the amendment failed when the vote was tied 2'2.
During public comment, resident Jerry Fisher, who said he served many years on a drainage commission, urged a maintenance-focused approach: small, targeted fixes can reduce recurring road closures and emergency responses. "Just a little maintenance. We can solve some of the stuff," Fisher said.
This was the budget's first reading; no adoption vote was taken. The county will hold a second reading and a vote on adoption on June 5, 2025. Further amendments may be proposed before that meeting.
