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Simpson County fiscal court approves $2.41 million budget amendment, temporary jail hires and accepts $78,500 HIDTA subaward
Summary
At its Dec. 20 meeting, the Simpson County Fiscal Court approved a $2,411,973.47 FY22/23 budget amendment, authorized two temporary jail hires that will briefly exceed the 35-FTE cap, accepted a $78,500 CY2023 Appalachia HIDTA subaward, advanced two transient room tax ordinances and approved multiple budget transfers and expenditures.
The Simpson County Fiscal Court on Dec. 20 approved a $2,411,973.47 amendment to the FY22/23 budget and advanced a slate of administrative and funding actions at a meeting in the Simpson County Historic Courthouse.
County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes opened the session and the court voted to adopt Amendment No. 3 to Ordinance No. 220.245 (FY22/23) on second reading and final passage. The amendment was approved on a motion by Magistrate Nathaniel Downey and a second by Magistrate Marty Chandler.
The court also authorized two temporary hires for the county jail — a commissary trainee to replace retiring employee Mary Beth Farley and a temporary replacement for a full-time deputy on one-year military deployment — on a motion by Magistrate Myron Thurman and a second by Magistrate Nathaniel Downey; the hires will temporarily put the jail over the county’s 35 full-time employee cap while training and deployment overlap.
The fiscal court accepted a CY2023 Appalachia HIDTA Subaward Agreement that provides $78,500 in associated funding and assigned county administrative and financial responsibilities for the subaward, authorizing County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes to sign necessary documents.
Other approved items included multiple intra-fund budget transfers and the court’s routine bills-and-claims register. The court approved a Fire Rescue equipment purchase from L&W at state contract prices — $6,819 for lights and $6,790 for a topper and slide-out tray for a previously approved pickup truck — and authorized reappointment of Ashley Sharer to the Goodnight Memorial Library Board of Trustees through Dec. 31, 2026.
County officials said the finalized County Clerk and Sheriff budgets, each including proposed pay increases, will be formally presented for approval at the Jan. 3, 2023 Fiscal Court meeting for submission to the Kentucky Department for Local Government by Jan. 15, 2023.
Votes at a glance - Approve second reading/final passage of FY22/23 Budget Ordinance No. 220.245 Amendment No. 3 ($2,411,973.47): Motion by Nathaniel Downey; second by Marty Chandler; approved (affirmative votes recorded by the court). - Authorize hiring of two jail employees (temporary over-35 FTE): Motion by Myron Thurman; second by Nathaniel Downey; approved unanimously. - Authorize participation in CY2023 Appalachia HIDTA Subaward ($78,500) and authorize Judge/Executive to sign: Motion by Myron Thurman; second by Nathaniel Downey; approved unanimously. - Approve Fire Rescue equipment purchase from L&W (lights $6,819; topper/tray $6,790): Motion by Marty Chandler; second by Nathaniel Downey; approved. - Approve budget transfers and bills & claims as submitted: Approved by the court.
What this means The actions finalize major year-end budget adjustments and allow the county to accept targeted federal drug tasking funds. The temporary jail hires respond to an immediate operational need but will raise short-term payroll staffing above the county’s established 35-FTE limit while training and a military deployment overlap. The court set follow-up budget hearings and formal budget adoption steps for early January, consistent with state submission deadlines.
The court adjourned after Emergency Management Director Robert Palmer urged residents to prepare for an approaching severe winter storm.
