Hardin County Fiscal Court holds first reading of 2025-2026 county budget

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

The first reading of the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget was held and approved. The budget, which was revised after Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul’s initial presentation and three meetings of the county’s Finance Committee, proposes total revenues and appropriations of $59,814,655.

“We all discussed it,” said Fourth District Magistrate and Finance Committee Chair Fred Clem. “I think everybody expressed themselves and we came to a consensus, pretty much, to a budget that we can all live with. I just want to commend everybody for their efforts.”

Taul said after being submitted for initial review, the budget will likely go up for its second reading and adoption at the June 10 meeting.

A public hearing was held during the meeting for the County Road Aid funding and the Local Government Economic Assistance Fund.

“The amount upcoming in County Road Aid is $2,214 ,663, and for the Local Government Economic Assistance Fund there will be $272,341,” said Hardin County Attorney Jenny Oldham.

Oldham also encouraged county residents who receive letters on delinquent taxes, which are due to be sent out this week, to respond and pay as quickly as possible.

Hardin County Public Works Director Stephanie Givens said 751 cars came through the county’s recent waste tire collection event, with 61,411 tires collected. Givens reminded residents that the next free dump day at the Pearl Hollow landfill will be May 31. The landfill will be open to all customers, but the free dumping event is for county residents only.

Ryck Morales with the U.S. Small Business Administration discussed options that are available for victims of April flooding and storms. Morales said the SBA and FEMA have both set up disaster recovery centers in the Kentucky State Police Post Four building at 954 Cameron Ponder Way in Elizabethtown. Morales encouraged residents and business owners to stop by or reach out to the SBA to learn more.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet May 27.