Mason County Fiscal Court adopts FY2025–26 budget, approves vehicle purchases, emergency agreements and appointments

Mason County Judge Executive Owen McNeal and the Fiscal Court on June 25 adopted the county’s FY2025–26 budget and approved a package of resolutions that included vehicle purchases for the sheriff’s office, an annual agreement with Buffalo Trace Search and Rescue, a lease for a landfill roll‑off truck and several appointments.

The court approved Ordinance 25‑02/2026 on second reading, setting the county’s budget at $27,835,880 after Department of Local Governments edits added a clerk storage‑fees fund ($72,025). The ordinance lists major fund appropriations including a $9,748,510 general fund, a $4,096,567 jail fund, a $2,444,988 road fund and an $8,384,000 landfill fund; the budget also includes $215,200 in opioid settlement funds.

“Every dollar that comes in is being stretched,” Judge Executive Owen McNeal said, praising county staff and commissioners for belt‑tightening and noting an average across‑the‑board pay increase of 4.5 percent included in the plan. McNeal said the court will propose an ordinance in coming meetings to codify a $2.5 million reserve fund to stabilize future budgets.

The court approved Resolution 25‑13 to purchase two 2024 Dodge Durangos for the sheriff’s fleet. Chief Deputy Colton (last name in transcript varies) said dealers offered two new Durangos (stock numbers D240833 and D240851) at $39,999 each, keeping each vehicle under the county’s $40,000 formal bid threshold. He said outfitting for one vehicle to accommodate a K‑9 handler would add roughly $4,500, to be paid in part from a K‑9 donation fund and the department’s capital expense line.

“Our office is requesting the acquisition of two 2024 Dodge Durangos,” Colton said, and added the dealership “is willing to sell them for 39,999, which keeps it under the 40,000 bid amount.” Commissioners confirmed the motion was limited to the purchase; the resolution passed on a unanimous roll call.

Emergency Management Director Tony Lees presented Resolution 25‑12, the annual agreement between Mason County, Mason County Emergency Management and Buffalo Trace Search and Rescue. Lees said the volunteer team has expanded — adding a drone capability and additional search dogs — and that Mason County’s annual share would remain a flat $2,106.25. The court approved the agreement unanimously.

For the landfill, the court approved Resolution 25‑14 to finance a 2026 Mack roll‑off truck through the county’s revolving roll‑off program; discussion noted the truck replacement will proceed through scheduled auction timing and that surplusing of older vehicles will follow. A separate surplus request for a late‑model Ford F‑350 (proposed for reassignment or parts) was also approved.

Finances and transfers: the court authorized payment of claims including additional claims totaling $86,788.24 and approved budget transfers totaling $298,500. Per an auditor’s request related to the FY2023–24 audit, the court also increased the interfund transfer cap for general‑to‑jail transfers from $500,000 to $875,000.

The court passed a resolution expressing support for Job Corps of Kentucky Region 2 and urging continued federal funding for the program. It also approved appointments to the Mason County Public Library board, naming Brooks Gully, Lisa Applegate and Leslie Mayberry to fill vacancies.

All formal motions and resolutions taken at the special meeting were approved by unanimous roll call. The court concluded with community announcements and adjourned.