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Judge warns animal control and EMS subsidies unsustainable as bourbon‑barrel tax phases down
Summary
Judge Tim Hutchkins said Nelson County currently subsidizes EMS and animal control by roughly $2 million annually and warned that a phased reduction in bourbon‑barrel (inventory) tax revenue beginning in 2026 will require discussions with cities about future funding and service levels.
Nelson County Judge Executive Tim Hutchkins told WBRT listeners the county currently subsidizes emergency medical services and animal control at nearly $2 million per year and that revenue from the bourbon‑barrel inventory tax will begin declining in 2026.
"The county is paying about it'll be close to $2 million next this coming year next year subsidizing EMS and the animal control center," Hutchkins said, adding that the county provides those services to cities as well and that the subsidy is becoming unsustainable.
Hutchkins said the bourbon‑barrel tax is scheduled to phase down (he cited a 4% reduction beginning in 2026) on a calculated scale and that the county will need to talk with municipalities about how to share costs going forward. "It's going to have to be a discussion that we going to have to have with all the cities," he said.
On animal-control operations, Hutchkins described his recurring constituent complaints about dogs and said the county has worked with the humane society to clean up close to 200 sites during his tenure. He estimated county expenditures for animal control and related services in the "$300,000 to $400,000" range annually and said enforcement is constrained by property‑rights and zoning distinctions.
Why it matters: A shrinking inventory tax revenue stream and rising equipment and service costs could force the county to reduce services, shift costs to cities or residents, or seek alternative funding arrangements. Hutchkins framed the issue as a long‑term fiscal problem tied to both declining specific tax revenue and growing operational needs.
Details and follow-up: Hutchkins discussed possible next steps including intergovernmental talks; he did not propose a specific new revenue source, fee change, or a formal budget vote during the broadcast. He also emphasized the limits of enforcement for junk vehicles and dog‑breeding/boarding operations without zoning or licensing changes.
