Fiscal Court Recap: First Reading of New Rec/Room Taxes Approved

Madison Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Fiscal Court met once again today, April 10th, 2023. Today's meeting was very brief, lasting only about 30 minutes. After Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey called the meeting to order, the court approved the current bill list and then county department heads gave their usual update since the last fiscal court meeting.

In new business, the court quickly moved through the agenda with little to no discussion on most of the items. The biggest discussion of today's meeting was the first reading of the EC 23-16 Recreational Tax ordinance, and the first reading of the EC 23-06 Transient Room Tax ordinance, which were both approved.

Judge Lindsey said that the recreational tax ordinance was re-written to "make it more even" for all recreational activities in Edmonson County. Lindsey broke it down to the court by using this example, saying "These numbers may not be exactly correct, but let's say it cost five dollars to get into karaoke in Brownsville. They have to give us 50 cents per each five dollar ticket sold. Now let's say it costs 300 dollars to get into Blue Holler, they still had to give us the same 50 cents per 300 dollar ticket sold. This ordinance has been re-written to a flat out 3% rate, in hopes to make the playing field a little more even."

The transient room tax ordinance was re-written to match the House Bill 8 that was recently passed, according to Judge Lindsey. It is also 3%, matching the recreational tax ordinance.

The court also voted to pay 75% of health insurance premiums for county employees for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Edmonson County Treasurer Tammi Whilhite said that county employees' premium rates are 6.8% this year.

The court also voted to:

• Approve to waive fees for Mark Wardlow’s Community Center (Avie-Lynn Fundraiser) rental April 22nd 2023.
• Approve to Reappoint Patty Forbes to Recreation Tax Committee, effective 4/1/2023 for a 2-year term ending 4/1/2025.
• Approve Resolution EC23-12, Land and Water Conservation Grant Application.
• Approve Treasurer’s March Monthly Settlement Report.
• Approve Judge’s Quarterly Financial Report.
• Approve Coroner Bond #2122275 Renewal.
• Approve Resolution EC23-11, Fiscal Year 2024 County Road Aid Agreement.
• Acknowledge Arbor Day Proclamation.
• Acknowledge Fiscal Year 2024 Edmonson County Extension District Board Budget.
• Approve Sheriff’s March Fee Account Report, pending final audit.
• Approve Sheriff’s March County Property Tax Report, pending final audit.
• Approve Sheriff’s March Fire Protection Report, pending final audit.
• Approve Sheriff’s March Franchise Tax Report, pending final audit.
• Acknowledge Dog Control March CAD Report.
• Approve Leitchfield Exterminating Termite Service Agreement for Health Dept.
• Approve Sheriff’s Quarterly Budget Report.
• Acknowledge County Clerk's March Clerk Storage Fees Report.
• Approve County Clerk's March MVAV Collection Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk's March Excess Fees Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk's March Deed Transfer Tax report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk's March Delinquent Tax Collection report, pending final audit.
• Approve National Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation.

The next fiscal court meeting will be April 24, 2023 at 9 am.