Hardin County Fiscal Court approves budget

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.

The fiscal court approved the county budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Eighth District Magistrate Kenny Muse said he was voting against the budget because he was frustrated with the use of reserve funds to balance it.

“Each year, we say we’re going to do better, and we probably have done better, but we’re still not there with, I guess it’s $2 million over,” Muse said.

The council also approved an ordinance amending the 2024-2025 budget to account for receipts from road aid and asphalt funding, and a resolution approving step in grade for the new budget and a one percent cost of living adjustment was approved.

Lincoln Trail District Health Department Public Health Director Sara Jo Best provided an update on services the health department provided in Hardin County. Best said total visits for the current fiscal year as of April are 14,856, which with two months left is already ahead of the 10,915 visits seen last fiscal year.

Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott said federal Disaster Survivor Assistance staff have contacted more than 5,100 homes in the county since April storms and flooding hit the area. The deadline to register with FEMA for Individual Assistance has been extended to July 25.

“Almost $3 million has been recovered so far from claims from Hardin County, so that’s encouraging news that some money is coming back to our community to help people during this time,” Scott said.

FEMA’S Disaster Recovery Center is located at Kentucky State Police Post Four.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet June 24.