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Bourbon County votes to honor 2025 longevity payouts while approving $200,000 transfer from inmate housing fund
Summary
After heated debate and emotional public comments from county employees, the commission agreed to honor 2025 longevity payouts and approved a $200,000 transfer from the inmate housing fund into the general fund while directing staff to prepare a transfer resolution for the next meeting.
The Bourbon County Commission voted on Dec. 1 to honor longevity pay previously included on employee pay stubs for 2025, even as the board acknowledged the funding stream that originally supported that payout had been contested.
The issue surfaced amid broader budget deliberations after staff and commissioners learned that the allocation originally earmarked for the longevity payments was being challenged. Several county employees addressed the commission during public comment, saying they had already planned on the payments for holiday expenses and asked the board to follow through. Victoria Portbury of the corrections department said the change left employees scrambling: “We were counting on that money,” she said during the meeting.
Commission discussion centered on legal and fiscal constraints. Counsel and the clerk advised the board the funding was contested and may not be legally available; commissioners debated whether to draw from other accounts or delay payouts. After extended discussion, the commission voted to honor the 2025 payouts and to revisit eligibility rules for future years (2026 and beyond) when a new handbook and policy will be implemented.
Separately, the board considered using inmate housing revenue to shore up county finances. Commissioner Tran moved — and the commission approved by voice vote — a resolution to transfer $200,000 from the inmate housing fund to the county general fund, leaving a projected balance intended to address the sheriff’s budget needs. Commissioners directed staff to prepare the formal transfer resolution for the next meeting and asked the county finance officer to provide precise projections so the board can confirm how much of the inmate fund must remain to cover anticipated jail-related costs.
The board also asked counsel to track any legal challenges related to reallocating inmate revenue. Commissioners emphasized they were not advocating unrestricted spending of the transferred funds but wanted to ensure short-term obligations, including the announced longevity payouts, could be met without violating cash-basis rules.
The motion to transfer funds and the vote to honor the 2025 longevity payouts were recorded during the meeting; staff were asked to bring formal language for the transfer and any implementing motions to the next commission meeting.
