Oldham County Fiscal Court adopts $67.9 million FY27 budget; approves routine grants, bond releases and road acceptances

Oldham County Fiscal Court on June 2 adopted a $67,914,378 budget for fiscal year 2027 after a second reading and public hearing that drew no public comment.

Judge David Bogle announced the second reading and put the budget on the table; a finance committee member told the court the FY27 total compares with $71,282,902 in the prior year and that the Department for Local Government (DLG) reviewed and approved the county’s calculations. "We've had people say, 'Well, the budget is more than it was last year.' Well, that's not necessarily true," a finance committee representative said, noting revenue increases helped offset expense growth.

The court heard staff explain how operating revenue and reserves will be used. County Chief Financial Officer Stan Clark said operating expenses are covered by operating revenue and that capital outlays planned from reserves total about $5,459,138, including a $1,025,000 line for Hounds Lane intersection design and roughly $1,000,000 set aside for possible Westport Park improvements. The judge noted Oldham County receives slightly over $8 million from property taxes and observed that the county’s police operating budget is roughly $8.3 million.

After discussion the court approved the budget by voice vote. The court also approved an annual standing order under KRS 68.275(3) to preapprove recurring payroll, utilities and routine vendor payments.

In routine business the court authorized a number of smaller but immediate actions: it approved a state waste tire grant application and authorized the judge to sign the 2026–27 $4,000 grant that allows residents to drop off tires at the county recycling center free of charge; it increased an opioid-fund allocation by $147.50 to correct an arithmetic discrepancy; and it accepted Norton Commons Hamlet Section 1A and several Sanctuary Falls sections into the Oldham County Road Maintenance System after the road committee’s positive recommendations.

County Engineer Jim Sllman recommended release of a performance bond for Sanctuary Falls Section 1 in the amount of $38,931.10 after inspections confirmed construction met county standards; the court released that bond and accepted the associated roads. The court also released a $29,565 performance bond for Sanctuary Falls Section 2A and accepted Ruby Falls Drive into county maintenance.

Personnel items carried by voice vote: the court hired Kaylee Crumb as a Planner I at $25.64 per hour effective June 29 and approved two parks building monitors, Campbell Lane and Maline Baldwin, at $11 per hour effective immediately.

The court voted to enter closed session under KRS 61.810 subsections A and C to discuss proposed litigation that could be prejudiced by public discussion; it reconvened after roughly 15–20 minutes and announced no action was taken in closed session. The court adjourned following brief departmental announcements.

What’s next: The FY27 budget takes effect with the new fiscal year; departments will proceed under the adopted appropriation and the county will execute the approved contracts and road-acceptance agreements. Public records and the county clerk’s office will publish the adopted budget ordinance and related documents.