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Pike County judge presents 2026 budget with 2.7% pay increase, warns of falling coal severance revenue
Summary
Judge Ray Jones II presented a 2026 proposed budget that includes a 2.7% cost-of-living raise for county employees, larger insurance and liability costs, and large grant-driven capital projects; the court adopted a budget amendment and acknowledged major grant revenues while warning that coal severance receipts have dropped sharply.
Judge Ray Jones II presented the Pike County proposed budget for fiscal 2026, highlighting a 2.7% cost-of-living increase for all county employees, stepped-up capital spending tied to flood recovery grants and a sharp decline in coal and mineral severance revenue.
The judge said the budget includes a 2.7% pay increase to help match inflation and noted a small reduction in the county retirement match from 18.62% to 17.43%. He warned that health insurance premiums rose 4.83% and general liability and workers’ compensation costs also increased, citing a $317,886 increase in liability premiums and a workers’ comp rise that pushed costs from about $728,000 to $816,000.
"We have money in the bank account, but that money is earmarked from the federal government for road repairs and flood recovery," the judge said, adding that misusing earmarked funds would create "catastrophic" legal liability for the county. Treasurer Frankie confirmed bookkeeping adjustments related to a proposed amendment.
Jones framed the budget’s capital plan around flood recovery and FEMA- and NRCS-funded home buyout grants he said total roughly $30 million, and he said the jail fund includes a $1,005,000 transfer to subsidize the jail. He warned that coal and mineral severance collections, which once totaled $12.484 million in 2009, are now projected at roughly $1.2–1.4 million this year.
At the meeting the court adopted Budget Amendment No. 1 for fiscal 2025–26 (an adjustment of $1,319,626.80) by roll call after a motion from Commissioner Atkins and a second from Commissioner Scott. The court also acknowledged receipt of the proposed FY 2027 budget packet required for submission.
Why it matters: The budget sets pay and benefits for county employees, directs flood-recovery spending, and depends on grant funding and diminished severance revenues. If severance receipts remain depressed, the county’s revenue assumptions could be strained.
What’s next: The court recorded the amendment’s adoption and advanced the proposed budget materials; routine budget deadlines and further adoption steps were noted by the judge and treasurer.
