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Madison County approves FY2026 rural-secondary resurfacing list, declines flexing funds to state roads
Summary
At its April 22 meeting, the Madison County Fiscal Court approved three recommended FY2026 rural-secondary resurfacing projects and voted not to apply county flex funds to a state-maintained roadway, leaving those flex dollars for county roads.
Madison County Fiscal Court voted April 22 to approve recommended resurfacing projects under the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) FY2026 rural-secondary program and declined to apply the county’s available “flex” share toward a state-maintained route.
The court approved resurfacing recommendations for Kentucky 499 (Crooksville Road/Brassfield Road), a roughly 3.4-mile segment between Muddy Creek and Brassfield Road in eastern Madison County; Kentucky 595 from Kentucky 876 out to Dry Branch Road; and a 0.6-mile portion of Barnes Mill Road that connects to Kentucky 595. The court also voted against using its flex funds on the KYTC-recommended state route, Kentucky 1983 (Menelaus Road) between Kentucky 595 and Kentucky 1956 (the Berea bypass).
The KYTC presentation, delivered by Casey Smith of the Division of Planning, District 7, said Madison County has about 122 miles of rural-secondary roads and currently sits within a 14-to-19-year resurfacing cycle. KYTC staff described how 22.2% of the state fuel tax is allocated to the rural-secondary program, apportioned among counties by a formula that includes rural population, land area and lane mileage. For FY2026, the county’s projected flex-share figure shown in the materials was $271,188 (projected). KYTC listed an estimated combined cost for the three orange-diamond resurfacing projects of $620,185 (estimate), and a balance shown for RS projects of $913,529 (projected balance, including carryforward from FY2025).
Scott (staff member) read resolution 2025-028, which cited Kentucky Revised Statutes sections 177.32 through 177.36 as the statutory authority for the rural-secondary funding program. Judge Taylor asked for a motion; the court made a motion and seconded to approve the recommended routes and to decline using flex funds on a state route. During discussion, magistrates and KYTC staff also noted that the resurfacing cycle had been reintroduced after being paused in prior years and that different pots of rural-secondary funding exist for resurfacing versus lower-cost maintenance such as shouldering.
On a roll call, the court recorded unanimous approval for the resolution as read: Master Lockmiller — yes; Master Hughes — yes; Master Bakken — yes; Master Combs — yes; Judge Taylor — yes. The court directed staff to email the signed resolution to KYTC.
Why it matters: Rural-secondary funding and the decision whether to “flex” county-allocated amounts to state routes affect which roads receive resurfacing and whether counties retain funds to address local (county-owned) roads. The court’s decision keeps the flex share available to county road work rather than shifting it to a state-maintained segment.
Votes at the meeting also approved other transportation and county funding items (see separate “Votes at a glance” article for the full list).
