Fiscal Court acknowledges Pike County Library District FY26 budget; libraries praised for disaster-recovery role

Pike County Fiscal Court formally acknowledged receipt of the Pike County Library District’s FY2026 budget for the year beginning July 1, 2025. The court approved the administrative acknowledgment by voice and roll call; the motion was made by Commissioner Lewis and seconded by Commissioner Atkins, with all members voting yes.

Delana Adkins, introduced herself during the presentation as the director of libraries and said the library system had stayed within last year’s budget and developed a new budget that reflects lower tax rates and planned programming. “My name is Delana Adkins, and I’m the director of libraries. I’ve been with the library system 30 years,” she said in the public presentation.

Judge Jones and other court members praised the district’s service and noted the library system’s role in flood recovery. County emergency management director Nee Jackson thanked the libraries for providing space for disaster-recovery centers in Phelps, Shelby Valley, Belfry and the main Pikeville branch; the court discussed an extension request to keep regional recovery centers open into July. Court members said the library facilities have hosted FEMA briefings, hazard-mitigation meetings, and served as hubs where residents could access information and services related to the February disaster.

During remarks, Judge Jones credited changes to library governance and management with allowing a lower tax rate for library services. He said the district had reduced the tax rate “by about a third,” and that service levels, including new programming and Internet access in outlying communities, had been maintained or expanded.

Action taken: the fiscal court recorded acknowledgment of receipt of the FY26 budget and asked library representatives to remain after the meeting for additional questions. No appropriation or county funding change was adopted during the acknowledgement; the item was a formal receipt of the district’s submitted budget.

What happens next: the district’s budget will proceed through its own board process and any requests for county funding or intergovernmental actions would return to the court for separate consideration.