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Council approves $120,000 emergency appropriation for Crescent Villa Hills Fire Authority amid calls for greater transparency
Summary
After heated debate over whether hires were made outside council approval, the council approved Ordinance 2026‑3, a $120,000 budget amendment for Crescent Villa Hills Fire Authority. Several council members demanded line‑item backup; the mayor broke a 3‑3 tie to pass the measure.
The Crescent Springs City Council on March 23 approved Ordinance 2026‑3, authorizing an additional $120,000 to the Crescent Villa Hills Fire Authority to cover unexpected expenses, including staffing and overtime costs.
The funding request prompted sustained public comment and council debate about whether the Fire Authority complied with interlocal hiring procedures. Bob Flair, a resident, requested a line‑item breakdown of the $120,000 and urged the council not to approve the ordinance until full financial details — number of full‑time positions, salaries, part‑time counts and benefits — were provided. “Oversight cannot be delegated,” he said, asking for the request to be entered into the public record.
Council members cited KRS 91A.060 as the legal basis for requesting detailed documentation and repeatedly sought a transparent accounting. Sue Cassidy, chair of the Fire Authority, said the Treasurer presented the proposed amendment in January and that documentation was available to the commission. The Fire Chief — who spoke in the meeting — defended the hires as an allocation intended to reduce costly overtime, saying hiring full‑time staff is less expensive than repeated overtime payments.
Council moved to adopt the ordinance after discussion. The roll call produced a 3‑3 split; Mayor Dougherty broke the tie with a yes vote and declared Ordinance 2026‑3 adopted. Council members who opposed the motion said they would continue to press for the detailed backup. The mayor and administration committed to obtain and provide the requested line‑item materials to the council following the vote.
The ordinance takes effect on enactment; council directed staff and the fire authority to deliver the requested financial documentation so council can evaluate whether future appropriations or policy changes are needed.
