Franklin County court amends budget, votes to request waiver of 65% spending limit

At its July 8 work session, the Franklin County Fiscal Court approved an amendment adding about $10.4 million to the county’s fiscal-year budget and authorized county staff to request a waiver from the state’s 65% limitation on expenditures and encumbrances for the first half of the fiscal year.

Amy, who presented the amendment, said the change incorporates items carried forward from the prior fiscal year, including an $8.5 million buyout amount that will flow through the fiscal quarter, and other items such as a fire grant. She stated the amendment increases the overall budget to $69.1 million; excluding capital and federal projects, the adjusted general-fund total is roughly $48.6 million (an increase of about $1.9 million in noncapital items).

Because two large items require spending above the 65% limit in the first half of the fiscal year, Amy said she will submit a resolution and waiver request to the Department of Local Government under the provisions of KRS 68.310. She told the court she had already submitted some budget materials and was waiting for a response but would file the additional waiver material.

Court members asked clarifying questions about specific grants and whether carryover amounts represented actual grant funds or required local matches. Amy said she would provide details. The court approved the resolution to request the waiver by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will file the waiver request with the Department of Local Government and report back to the court when the department responds.