How to complete Boyle County's Statement of Financial Interests (SOPHIE) online

Unidentified Speaker, a member of the Boyle County Ethics Commission, demonstrates how to complete and submit the county's online Statement of Financial Interests form (SOPHIE).

The video walks filers through choosing a filing type, entering personal and employment information, and disclosing income and interests that meet the county's reporting thresholds. The presenter emphasizes timing and validation steps: "So we always have to file it in January for the previous year even if we only are serving for part of the year," and shows the form's error checks that prevent submission until required fields are completed.

Filing type and timing are front and center. The tutorial lists three filing options: annual filing (the most common), a filing for new hires or appointees, and an amendment for mid‑year changes. The presenter shows selecting "annual filing" and explains that if an officeholder leaves mid‑year they still must file for the previous year in the January cycle.

The step-by-step walkthrough covers the form's main sections. In "Filer Information" users must provide name, board or commission affiliation (if applicable), address, email and phone. The employment section asks whether the filer is employed; if yes, the filer must enter employer name, position, business address and business email. The presenter shows how answering "yes" or "no" changes which fields appear.

The tutorial specifies the monetary thresholds that trigger disclosure. Filers must list sources of income exceeding $10,000 as of Dec. 31 of the reporting year and identify the payer and type of income (examples given include salary/wages, commissions, dividends, professional-practice income, pension or retirement distributions, and rental income). Business interests within Kentucky worth $10,000 or with 10% ownership or more must be reported, including name and address. The form also asks whether any out-of-state business interests engaged in transactions with local government entities in the past three years; those must be disclosed as well.

Real property questions ask whether the filer or spouse had an interest of $20,000 or greater in any real property (other than a primary residence) in Boyle County during the reporting year and instruct filers to provide the address and property type (commercial, residential or rural farm). Creditor disclosure requires reporting any non-primary-residence debt of $10,000 or more as of year end (the form asks which creditors, not the exact amounts). The presenter also covers bankruptcy questions for filings within the past 10 years and requests the applicable chapter(s) if applicable.

The conflicts-of-interest section is highlighted as important and mandatory to read and accept; the presenter stresses that the form will not allow progression without affirming that section. The final pages allow filers to type any additional actual or potential conflicts of interest that are not covered elsewhere on the form.

Before submission, filers must type their name to attest the information is true and accurate and may provide a drawn signature by touchscreen or use a cursor to sign. A confirmation copy of the submitted form will be emailed to the address entered on the form; the presenter cautions filers to provide an accurate email so they receive the copy.

The tutorial closes with contact information for questions: email the Boyle County Ethics Commission at ethics@boylecountyky.gov.

The walk-through is instructional, contains no formal policy changes or votes, and serves as a procedural guide for local officials and appointees required to file SOPHIE.