Hardin County adopts FY2026/27 budget despite County Judge/Executive Keith Taul’s dissent

Hardin County Fiscal Court on June 9 adopted Ordinance No. 347, the county’s FY2026/2027 budget, by roll call vote. Seven magistrates voted in favor, one (County Judge/Executive Keith Taul) voted no and one magistrate, Squire Larry Hicks, was recorded as not present.

County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said he remained “unhappy with and strongly disagreed” with substantial changes made to the draft budget he previously presented. Taul told the Court the adopted budget denied a one‑grade pay increase for full‑time emergency medical services employees (EMTs, EMT‑As and paramedics), reduced the cost‑of‑living adjustment from 2% to 1%, declined to add a proposed fire service deputy director position (which Taul estimated would cost about $96,000 including benefits), did not fund a part‑time co‑op intern position (about $15,000), and cut roughly $50,000 in engineering and architectural fees for a proposed Glendale Emergency Services Fire/EMS building. Taul said he calculated those and related changes would increase the county’s current‑year cash reserves by about $1.9 million compared with his plan and that, overall, the adopted budget would add roughly $2.6 million to reserves versus his originally proposed budget. Taul also noted county reserves were already about $34 million; he said he did not vote for the budget at the prior meeting and would not vote for it at this meeting.

Magistrates who supported the budget defended the Court’s vote as fiscally prudent. Squire Chris Yates said he was proud that the seven magistrates “stood tall” against what he characterized as “reckless spending” proposed by the Judge/Executive, adding the vote signaled the magistrates’ intention to preserve the county’s financial security and future.

The ordinance’s adoption was preceded by the required second reading. The minutes do not record an extended debate beyond the summary of Taul’s objections and the subsequent roll call. The budget ordinance takes effect according to the county’s standard budget adoption procedures; the minutes do not specify an effective date beyond adoption.

The Court approved the ordinance by a recorded vote: Fred Clem Jr., Kenny Muse, Aaron Pennington, Kenny Saltsman, EG Thompson, Patsy Whitehead and Chris Yates voted yes; Keith Taul voted no; Larry Hicks was not present.

The Fiscal Court’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 23, 2026.