Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodford County fiscal court gives first reading to $73.5 million budget, proposes big property tax cut
Summary
Judge Executive Kaye presented the fiscal year 2026–27 budget (total appropriations $73,521,639.46) and proposed lowering the county property tax rate from 5.9 mills to 3.9 mills; the court approved the first reading unanimously and scheduled final consideration after required advertisement.
Judge Executive Kaye presented the Woodford County fiscal year 2026–27 budget at the fiscal court meeting and secured unanimous approval for a first reading of the appropriations ordinance.
Kaye said the recommended budget totals $73,521,639.46 in appropriations and emphasized the court’s intention to reduce the county property tax rate from 5.9 to 3.9 mills. “We’ve kept the families of Woodford County in mind as inflation has stretched every one of their dollars,” Kaye said, framing the tax cut as part of contesting local cost pressures while maintaining county services.
Why it matters: The proposed drop from 5.9 to 3.9 mills would be the largest property tax cut undertaken by the fiscal court, according to the judge, and the first reading advances the ordinance to the required public advertisement and second reading. County Attorney (present at the meeting) summarized the budget worksheet and said the figure reflects roughly $31.5 million in grant funding included in the total. “This is a summary of the appropriations for fiscal year 26–27,” the county attorney said, citing the $73,521,639.46 total.
Details and priorities: Kaye described the budget as placing a major emphasis on county employees and stated several budget elements: a county balance above $14 million, continued funding for a road department reorganization, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for staff this year (3% last year), and investments in a housing affordability program and parks. Squire Taylor highlighted the budget’s commitment to housing, calling the $350,000 investment in affordable housing “an incredible investment” and noting that the court is also investing in the rural land preservation board.
The county attorney provided a line-item summary, noting general government and public safety appropriations, road fund capital projects (about $5.9 million), the jail fund ($3.55 million), and grant totals including $11.6 million in state grants and $16.1 million in federal grants. He also listed an opioid abatement settlement allocation of $499,029.41 and ARPA funds totaling $3,802,145.91.
Procedure and next steps: Because this was a first reading, the ordinance will be advertised in summary form as required and brought back for a second reading at the court’s June meeting (the county attorney referenced June 23 as the next likely meeting date). The court voted to approve the first reading unanimously.
The court did not set final millage or a final adoption date during the first reading; those steps will follow the statutorily required advertisement and public comment period.
