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Simpson County to fund $1/hour pay increase for frontline workers; taps reserves and cuts asphalt spending
Summary
During its May 7 meeting the fiscal court agreed to a $1-per-hour pay increase for Fire Department, Public Works and Jail employees and a $5,000 annual boost to Soil Conservation, to be funded for FY24/25 by a one-time $45,717 from reserves and a $19,446 reduction in asphalt spending; the first reading of the FY2024/2025 budget ordinance is set for May 21.
Simpson County Fiscal Court on May 7 reached consensus to provide an additional $1.00-per-hour pay increase for employees of the Fire Department, Public Works and Jail, and to increase the county’s annual contribution to Soil Conservation by $5,000. County Judge/Executive Mason Barnes explained the court will cover these commitments for now by using $45,717 from cash reserves and by reducing asphalt spending by $19,446 for FY24/25.
The court discussed longer-term revenue options — including separating the Health Department as a taxing district or raising the county’s property tax rate — but did not adopt either measure at the meeting. The court also approved the formal budget transfers needed to reallocate line items (motions recorded by Magistrate Myron Thurman and seconded by Magistrate Marty Chandler) and approved two cash transfers: $22,000 from the General Fund to the 911 Fund and $66,500 from the General Fund to the Jail Fund. All motions passed unanimously.
Members agreed to schedule the first reading of the FY2024/2025 budget ordinance for the May 21 regular meeting; following that first reading the ordinance will be forwarded to the Kentucky Department for Local Government for review. The court approved bills and claims for multiple vendors and payroll lines as presented during the meeting.
