Fiscal Court Recap: New Occupational Tax District Discussed; County Employees Get 6% Raise

Jon Sanders from the Edmonson County Industrial Authority speaks to the Fiscal Court.

Madison Doyle, story and photo:
Edmonson County fiscal court met today, March 27, 2023. Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey called the meeting order and led the court in the pledge of allegiance. Multiple county department heads gave updated reports since the last fiscal court meeting two weeks ago.

Moving into new business, Jon Sanders from the Edmonson County Industrial Authority said he was invited by Judge Lindsey to propose an occupational tax district for both county industrial parks, each located on 31W. He explained that right now, the county has two industrial parks. Industrial park one has approximately 20 acres of land, and industrial park two (which is currently just farm land) has about 50 acres, so the occupational tax district would be only on those 70 total acres.

"We are planning on doing some work to park one right now, hopefully someone will build a building in that location. Industrial park two would require probably a couple year's worth of work with it being farm land right now, but an occupational tax district would allow the fiscal court to adopt a percentage tax- and I would propose the Industrial Authority also get a portion of that tax- to continue economic growth into the future, whatever that is," Sanders said. "It could be buying land, it could be building an industrial park up by Nolin Lake, it could be a lot of things."

He explained that there would be special ordinances that specify what the county would have to do with the funds brought in from the tax, the county would not just get to keep it in their pocket. He also said that all of the counties around Edmonson County, with the exception of Barren County, have a county wide occupational tax district, which are mostly between a 1 and 1.5 percent rate.

Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey asked Sanders if the factories that are already in the industrial authority would have to pay this occupational tax as well. Sanders said no, because the tax would be adapted after these factories have been established, so they are "grandfathered in".

"When I was talking to people prior to the meeting, we were talking about sustainable revenue streams, and we don't have a lot of that right now," said Judge Lindsey. "This would take us in a great direction with the industrial authority to be able to do that."

This was only discussed as a possibility in the near future; there was no vote called.

However, the court did vote to increase the pay rate for all county employees (minus elected officials) by 6%. Judge Lindsey asked each individual magistrate what percentage increase that they would recommend, and all six magistrates said 6%.

District 5 Magistrate Gary Bagshaw said "With everything getting higher and higher everyday I think a 6% pay increase would be the right thing to do."

The court also voted to:

• Acknowledge BGWC February Shelter Directors Report.
• Acknowledge Big Reedy Watershed Conservancy District FY24 Budget.
• Approve PTSD Training for First Responders & Spouse Class (Fire, EMS, Sheriff, Dispatch & Coroner).
• Approve Resolution EC23-10, County Clerk Election Equipment Grant.
• Approve March Cash Transfers.
• Approve Jailer’s Policy Procedure Manual.
• Approve Lincoln Volunteer Fire Department Bid for $792,344 to Scott, Murphy, & Daniel, LLC. (Fire Dept. was awarded $750K grant, will budget an extra $100K of their own money for project)
  

The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 10th, at 9am.