LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — Laurel County Fiscal Court magistrates approved a $19.9 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012.

Approved during Thursday’s regular monthly meeting, the budget allots $3.7 million to the road fund, $4.2 million to the Laurel County Detention Center, $500,000 to the CSEP fund, and $406,745 to the occupational tax fund. The General Fund lists the largest numbers for the upcoming financial year at just over $10 million, bringing the 2012-2013 fiscal budget to $19,907,620.55.

The General Fund comprises 52 percent of the monetary distribution of the new budget and includes general government costs, protection to persons and property, general health and sanitation, holding company bonds, general services, employers’ share of fringe benefits for employees (insurance, paid time off, etc.), recreation and culture, and leases, to name a few.

The road fund distributes money for road maintenance and employee salaries, including $410,000 of the county’s share of fringe benefits.

Ditto for the jail fund which lists $1,029,936 for fringe benefits for jail employees, and $3.2 million for protection to persons and properties.

The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office contribution from the court is $613,000. The remainder of revenue to operate the sheriff’s office is generated through property tax collections from October through March each year. Once the taxes become delinquent, the bill is sent to the Laurel County Clerk’s Office. The other revenue generated for the sheriff’s office is through state and federal grants and seizure and sale of confiscated property such as vehicles.

With the presidential general election approaching in November, in which more voter turnout is reported than even in local elections, the fiscal court approved the budget for paying election officers at $50,000, with election commissioners receiving an $8,000 budget for the upcoming financial year. Rent, supplies, printing, and building repair wind down the elections category.

Housing and transportation of juvenile offenders is set at $187,000, with their housing costs coming in at an estimated $170,000. Juvenile transportation costs was set at $16,000, with medical costs estimated at $1,000.

Emergency services designated to receive money for the upcoming year include a $100,000 contribution to the ambulance service and $650,000 for the 9-1-1 telephone fees. The animal shelter is slotted for $187,080 for 2012-2013, with repairs to the facility set at $10,000. The largest amount set aside, however, is for food and supplies for animals housed at the facility on Chris Hamblin Memorial Lane, off Ky. 229, at $13,000.

The Older Persons Activity Center (OPAC) has a $30,000 donation included in the budget, as does the local American Red Cross with $9,400. The Laurel County Fairgrounds and fees associated with activities held there list $110,000 in support, with the D.A.R.E. program netting a $10,000 boost.

The court also approved the resolution for House Bill 265 coal severance funds for fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. This allots $6,500 for each of the county’s 12 volunteer fire departments and can be applied toward equipment, loans for equipment, etc. Individual departments can begin applying for this money on July 1.

Other actions included:

• Approved bids for cleanup of burn site restorations to Gary Tabor, the lowest bidder, for an area on Arthur Ridge Road at $11,500 and on Ky. 30 at $24,500;

• Approved taking in Good Neighbor Way and Hemingway Drive to the county road system, pending a public hearing on each road;

• Reappointed Glen Williams on the Wood Creek Water Board;

• Reappointed Dennis Minton as a trustee on the Bush Volunteer Fire Department District;

• Approved an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service to work together on roads located throughout the county; and

• Approved three new hires at the Laurel Detention Center, all at $9 per hour pay, and one on part-time status.



njohnson@sentinel-echo.com