Magistrates in the Garrard County Fiscal Court heard the first reading of an ordinance during Monday’s meeting repealing the insurance premium tax instituted to help pay off the hospital debt.
At the September meeting, the Court discovered it would not be able to immediately repeal the tax as previously expected. It can only be adjusted once a year and finalized in July. Until then, the tax will continue to generate an income.
“What happens to the money that continues to be gathered?” Magistrate Fred Simpson asked.
Judge-Executive John Wilson explained the money is going into an interest-bearing account, where it remains until the court determines what to do with it.
Magistrate Doan Adkinson suggested a watchdog committee be formed, consisting of individuals from each district, to monitor the money, since “the money belongs to the people.”
“There is a watchdog committee. It’s called the Fiscal Court,” Wilson said. He went on to add that any citizen had the right to request to view the status of the account that the money is in. The law states the money from the tax goes into a separate account, not the general fund.
“People tell me, ‘Boy you folded up’,” Adkinson said, referring to how they were able to pay off the debt early but still had a mix-up on the deadlines, which prohibited the court from removing the tax.
Sheriff Ronnie Wardrip interjected he had some possible suggestions on how to spend the extra tax revenue. These include finalizing payments on some police cruisers and possibly hiring two new deputies.
In other news
- Magistrates heard and approved a request for a charity EMS application, which means the county will sometimes help cover the costs when an individual is unable to pay.
- Magistrates approved an interlocal agreement with Boyle County on the occupational tax, which will allow the governments in Boyle and Garrard counties to communicate if someone claims to have paid the tax in the other county.
- The Fiscal Court accepted the entirety of Rolling Meadows and of Hawks Nest roads into the county road system.
- The court entered into executive session regarding issues of pending litigation, as well as some personnel decisions. No action was taken.
- Wilson requested the November meeting date be moved forward one week. The next Fiscal Court meeting will be on Nov. 5.
