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Bourbon County staff warn $521,009 in cuts needed to keep levy flat
Summary
County budget staff told commissioners that keeping the mill levy flat at 59.907 would require eliminating $521,008.64 from levied funds. Commissioners discussed fund consolidations, reserve protections and certification deadlines in July.
County budget staff presented a draft 2025 levy and budget that would require deep cuts to avoid a mill-levy increase, telling commissioners they would need to cut $521,008.64 from levied funds to keep the rate flat.
The presentation, led by the staff member identified in the meeting transcript as Speaker 6, laid out revenue assumptions and risks, including uncertain delinquent-tax receipts and lower sales-tax collections. "To stay levy flat, we would need to cut $521,008.64 out of the budget," Speaker 6 said, highlighting that several department requests and unfunded labor increases are driving the proposed levy rise from 59.907 to roughly 63.827 if no cuts are made.
Why it matters: Commissioners must decide whether to accept higher levies or reduce departmental budgets before statutory certification deadlines. Speaker 6 noted the county has used cash reserves in prior years and that continuing to lower mill rates without trimming expenditures has consumed carryover funds: "We lost $1,300,000 in revenue since 2020" by lowering mills while maintaining expenditures.
Supporting details: The staff review grouped levied funds and explained that some increases reflect mandatory department-of-labor pay changes and added positions (for example, two positions added in the county attorney's office). Employee-benefits costs were singled out as the largest pressure and the county is keeping a $200,000 protective reserve in that fund.
Next steps and timeline: Staff told the commission they will hold additional work sessions before the county must certify whether it will exceed the revenue-neutral rate. The presenter said certification to the county clerk is required by July 20 if the commission chooses to exceed the revenue-neutral rate, and staff scheduled follow-up sessions leading up to that deadline.
No formal votes were recorded in the session. Commissioners asked staff to return with proposed cuts and additional options for managing reserves and transfers so they can make a final decision before certification.
