Ashland adopts FY2025–26 budget; approves related regulatory fee and tax levy ordinances

The City of Ashland on June 26 gave second reading and final adoption to the FY2025–26 budget ordinance, authorizing revenues and appropriations for the 12-month fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.

Mayor and commissioners also adopted, by second reading and final adoption, an ordinance fixing a regulatory license fee at 4% of grocery sales of alcoholic beverages for fiscal year 2025–26 and an ordinance fixing the 2025 tax levy on bank deposit franchise tax, as noted in the meeting's old-business agenda items.

The budget ordinance was read into the record as "an ordinance of the city of Ashland, Kentucky approving and adopting the 2025, 2026 budget and appropriating revenues on hand to be received during the year 2025, 2026 for the payment of expenses of the city of Ashland for the 12 month period beginning 07/01/2025 and ending 06/30/2026 and repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith." The clerk recorded a motion and second and commissioners answered "aye" for the final vote.

The alcohol regulatory fee ordinance was described as imposing a 4% regulatory license fee as authorized by Section 24 of Ordinance Number 8, Series of 2021 (the Alcohol Beverage Control Ordinance for the city of Ashland). The ordinance states proceeds are to be used to reimburse the city for expenses related to sale of alcoholic beverages.

The tax-levy ordinance sets the bank deposit franchise tax levy for the year 2025 (payable in 2026) as part of revenue measures for the adopted budget. Commissioners moved, seconded and recorded unanimous "aye" votes on these items during the meeting's old-business segment.

The ordinances take effect according to standard municipal ordinance timelines once final administrative steps and any required notifications are completed. The city manager and finance staff will carry out implementation and accounting for the new budget and the fee and levy ordinances.