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Madison County Judge Executive Reagan Taylor emphasizes fiscal strength, public safety and job growth in State of the County
Summary
At the 2025 State of the County address, Madison County Judge Executive Reagan Taylor said the county is fiscally strong, outlined infrastructure and public-safety upgrades, described a regional economic partnership to attract jobs, and announced he will seek reelection in 2026.
Madison County Judge Executive Reagan Taylor told a packed Richmond Chamber of Commerce luncheon that Madison County is entering its next chapter from a position of financial strength and unity.
"The state of our county is strong," Taylor said, framing his remarks around a theme he repeated throughout the speech: "We are 1 Madison." He credited departments across the county for modernizing operations, trimming costs and investing in public safety and infrastructure.
Taylor pointed to several concrete accomplishments and near-term projects. He said relocating the county clerk’s office to Madison Avenue "saved the county hundreds of thousands of dollars" while improving services for residents. He also highlighted the county's emergency-management gains, saying the county completed the CSEP closeout, achieved APCO certification for text-to-911 and will begin construction on a new northern Madison County fire station to improve response coverage and help lower ISO insurance ratings for nearby residents.
On technology, Taylor said Madison County's IT team now provides cybersecurity and shared-services support to other local governments, serving "more than 1,400 people" and supporting devices across 16 contracted agencies with three technical support staff, which he characterized as an efficiency that generates revenue for the county.
Taylor described the Madison Connects broadband expansion as "nearing completion," saying reliable high-speed internet will be foundational for households and businesses. He also announced a regional economic partnership — the Central Kentucky Business Park Authority — formed with nearby jurisdictions, including Scott County and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, to coordinate resources and attract jobs to the region.
The judge executive framed much of the work as pragmatic efficiency: "Every dollar saved is a dollar reinvested in our community," he said, pointing to in-house road and bridge projects, courthouse renovations and tighter fiscal controls that he said have produced conservative budgets and healthy reserves.
Taylor closed by urging civic engagement and direct contact with county officials rather than relying on social media for information. He also made a political announcement: "I am all in on Madison County," Taylor said, adding that he is seeking reelection in 2026 while calling for continuity to carry the county’s work forward.
During a short question-and-answer period, Taylor took audience questions about the location of the northern fire station — explaining it was sited to improve ISO ratings and insurance outcomes — and deferred a question about a city sports complex to Richmond’s mayor because the facility is a city project. The luncheon hosts closed the program with reminders about upcoming chamber events and a request to support local food banks.
The address ran through county achievements and near-term projects without formal votes or motions; Taylor framed the speech as a five-year vision and an appeal for continued public involvement.
