Brown County fiscal court holds first reading of FY25-26 budget, authorizes bids and park use by 4‑H

Brown County Fiscal Court — The Brown County Fiscal Court on March 18 held the first reading of its fiscal year 2025–26 budget and approved a series of procurement and administrative steps, including authorizing bridge bid advertisements, awarding several service contracts and allowing the county extension service and 4‑H to use the lower floor of a county park house.

The court’s first reading of the FY25‑26 budget set the total budget at $23,408,145 and included a 2.9% cost‑of‑living adjustment for employees. The judge said the budget contains no tax increase and highlighted planned transfers to support county services: $1,062,025 (plus an expected $450,000 from payroll/occupational-tax revenue) to the ambulance fund and $1,687,127 (plus an expected $1,367,000 from payroll/occupational-tax revenue) to the jail fund. The second reading is scheduled for April 15, 2025.

Why it matters: the budget reading sets the level of county support for critical public services, including emergency medical services and the detention center, and authorizes internal transfers that will determine service capacity through the fiscal year.

Major operational approvals and procurements

- Senior center/CDBG: The county judge reported that Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have been released, allowing the county to put the senior center project out for bid (bids to be advertised Thursday and opened on April 15, with awards expected in early April). That scheduling was presented as a staff communication rather than a separate motion.

- Jail chiller replacement: The court approved purchasing parts and equipment and having Perfection Group install a compressor replacement for the Brown County Detention Center chiller. The quoted parts amount presented in the motion was $24,400 and the judge described this route as a cost‑saving alternative to a larger contractor bid. The motion passed by voice vote.

- Ambulance vehicle rehabilitation: The court awarded a contract for ambulance rehabilitation to a vendor identified in the bid documents; the award was approved by motion (amount in the meeting document is recorded in the clerk’s file; the discussion referenced earlier estimates of roughly $41,000 to refurbish EC8). Payment authority was assigned to the county treasurer for the appropriate account.

- Voting‑machine maintenance: The court accepted a quote from HARP Enterprise for scheduled voting machine maintenance (including drives and keys) in the amount stated in the quote, $9,016.30, and authorized payment from the elections account. The court discussed the importance of maintenance intervals and spare machines.

- County Service Building janitorial contract: The court awarded the janitorial contract for the County Services Building to Home Detail for $18,900 per year; the contract includes supplies.

- Road and bridge actions: The court accepted the posted road material bids for fiscal year 2025–26 (acceptance of bids, no award made at the meeting). The judge was authorized to advertise for bids and to award the lowest qualified bidder for bridge replacement work on Lower Caney Road and Logan Hollow; the court discussed the need to arrange bypasses and potential temporary access while replacements proceed.

- Voting equipment and spare parts schedule: County staff explained scheduled maintenance intervals for machine components and the risk that some internal batteries or drives will render an individual unit inoperable if not replaced on schedule; the maintenance acceptance covers the county’s schedule.

- Sheriff's audit and personnel approvals: The court accepted the Brown County sheriff’s calendar year 2023 audit (clean audit; no findings). The court also approved several personnel and appointment items, including an appointment to the joint planning commission and a contract for an assistant building inspector at $32.50 per hour (up to 24 hours per week).

Parks and extension service

The court approved a plan to allow the Brown County extension service and 4‑H to use only the lower floor of the house located on the new county park property (current address referenced as 600 Cumberland Drive). The extension service told the court it will pursue funding to make the building accessible (ADA ramp and restroom reconfiguration) and the 4‑H program has identified garden space and program uses such as horticulture and small‑livestock demonstrations. The court also voted to name the new park access road “Community Way” to create an addressable point for GPS and mail delivery.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in minutes)

- Approval of minutes, Feb. 18, 2025 — motion carried (voice vote). - Ordinance recognizing realized receipts ($443,991.51) — motion carried (voice vote); document on file with county clerk. - Resolution to renew participation in the 10‑county workforce development (WIOA) interlocal agreement pursuant to KRS 65.21 (chief elected official designation retained) — approved by roll call (recorded as yes by the magistrates present). - Approval to purchase and install detention‑center chiller components (Perfection Group) — motion carried (voice vote); parts noted in meeting text at $24,400; installation to be completed by vendor. - Acceptance of the county jail fiscal year 2025–26 budget presentation and placement on record — motion carried (voice/roll call as recorded in minutes); total jail budget $6,453,577. - Acceptance of Brown County Sheriff’s CY2023 audit (no findings) — motion carried (voice vote). - Award janitorial contract for County Services Building to Home Detail ($18,900/year) — motion carried (voice vote). - Award ambulance rehabilitation contract (vendor and bid on file) — motion carried (voice vote); payment to be made from ambulance account as recorded in clerk’s file. - Acceptance of HARP Enterprise quote for voting machine maintenance ($9,016.30) — motion carried (voice vote). - Acceptance of road material bids for FY25–26 (bids accepted, no award) — motion carried (voice vote). - Authorization to advertise and, if needed, award lowest qualified bidder for bridge replacement projects (Lower Caney Road and Logan Hollow) — motion carried (voice vote). - Approval to allow Extension service/4‑H use of lower floor of park house (with ADA modifications to be funded/managed by extension as described) — motion carried (motion and second recorded in minutes). - Appointment of Cliff Wilson to the joint planning commission (term beginning April 20, 2025) — motion carried. - Contract authorization for assistant building inspector William Cornett at $32.50/hour, up to 24 hours/week — motion carried. - Authorization for county attorney to execute opioid‑litigation documents on behalf of the court (administrative signature authority for litigation paperwork) — motion carried.

What court members said and next steps

County Judge (presiding) led budget and project discussions and emphasized there is no tax increase in the proposed budget and that transfers will be required to sustain ambulance and jail operations. Mike Machen, finance director, provided an overview of personnel counts and payroll drivers. Wes (county jailer) participated in the jail budget presentation. Michelle, the county treasurer, participated in budget detail and answered procedural questions about budget amendments and standing orders for recurring vendor payments.

The court scheduled a second reading of the budget for April 15, 2025; staff were directed to proceed with bid advertising where authorized and to bring award documents and contracts forward for payment from specified accounts once bids are received and qualified.

Ending note

Most actions passed unanimously or by voice vote and documentation for bids, contracts and ordinances referenced in the meeting are on file in the county clerk’s office; the court moved into a closed session at the meeting’s end for matters related to pending litigation and personnel under KRS 61.81 (subsections referenced in the minutes).