Fiscal Court Approves $41 Million County Budget
File Photo: Kentucky State Seal in the courtroom at Mercer County Fiscal Courthouse.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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The Mercer County Fiscal Court gave first reading to a budget of more than $41 million for the 2025 fiscal year.
At their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 14, Judge-Executive Sarah Steele called it a significant increase in the budget. The county’s budget was $22 million in 2023.
“We have a lot of projects coming,” Steele said.
The budget includes $12 million in reserves and $29 million in allocations, with $17 million coming from grants and state funding and $12 million in general expenses.
“That is huge,” Steele said. She said having so much in reserves is “a good thing for a budget.”
“If turmoil happens, we can still operate for over a year,” Steele said.
The budget also includes a $161,000 increase in salary for payroll, retirement and insurance. The county is also adding another half-time position for animal control.
Magistrate Jackie Claycomb moved to approve the budget, seconded by Magistrate Dennis Holiday. The motion passed unanimously. The budget gets submitted to the state before the fiscal court gives it second reading.
The fiscal court also gave first reading to the animal control ordinance.
“This has been a long journey, said Steele, noting county officials had been working on it for over the last six to eight months. She said they’d met monthly, reviewed ordinances from other areas and met with local stakeholders. The public can review the ordinance when the fiscal court gives it second reading at their next meeting on Tuesday, May 28.
They also approved updates to the animal control center policies and procedures manual.
