County tax rates for 2015 will remain unchanged and the county will remain in the Central Time Zone, following action taken by Clinton County Fiscal Court at its regular meeting last Thursday evening, August 20 with all members present except Magistrate Hershell Key.

Setting the county’s tax rate and approving other taxing district rates dominated the brief 25-minute meeting, with only a handful of other items of business on the agenda.

After approving the monthly treasurer’s report, expenditure and cash transfers and voting to pay claims and bills (with Magistrate Terry Buster abstaining in the latter), the court dealt with tax issues, first discussing the county rates to be levied for the upcoming year.

Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong proposed the county take the allowed over four percent compensating rate, which would have set the rate at 6.9 cents per $100 assessed value and real property, as the judge said the state had recommended.

Judge Armstrong noted that although the compensating rate is mentioned at four percent, the actual compensating rate, if taken, would actually be only a .4 percent hike in taxes above the current rate. He also continued the county had not been taking the allowed four percent compensating rate and it had cost the county in added revenue over the years.

When the judge asked for a motion to approve the proposed increased rate to 6.9, there was some moments of silence before Magistrate Ricky Craig made a motion to keep the rates unchanged from 2014. The motion was seconded and passed by unanimous vote.

Those rates are 6.5 cents per $100 assessed value on real estate and 7.8 each (state mandated) on personal, watercraft and motor vehicles.

Following the vote to keep the tax rate unchanged, Judge Armstrong told court member “you have let a lot of money slide under the table,” adding, “you’re actually cutting your own throats (down the road.)”

The court also approved other taxing district rates last week, as follows:

* Lake Cumberland District Health Department: 3.5 on real, personal, watercraft and motor vehicle.

* Clinton County UK Extension Service: real estate, 6.3; personal, 12.4; motor vehicle, 2.0.

* Soil Conservation District: 1.6 on real estate.

It was noted on the Extension Service rate that although higher than last year, it is the compensating rate for 2015 with no added revenues of the past year.

Judge Armstrong then presented a letter from the Department of Local Government which recommended Clinton County switch from Central Time to Eastern Time. Apparently the letter indicated Clinton was only one of three counties in the region that was not on Eastern Time, with another being Russell County.

The state’s suggestion was quickly rejected, as Magistrate Mickey Riddle made a motion for Clinton County to remain on Central Standard Time, with the motion passing without any further discussion.

The next issue on the agenda resulted in a split vote, as Judge Armstrong recommended the county reimburse constables for their bonds–about $101.80 each, noting that the county had paid for constables bonding in the past.

Magistrate Johnny Russell, who cited a recent tragic accident in the county where constables worked for several hours in the rain at a fatal accident scene, indicated they deserved to have their bonds paid by the county and made a motion to reimburse them for the cost of their bonds. His motion was seconded by Magistrate Buster.

When the issue was voted on, the other three magistrates, Riddle, Craig and Patty Guinn each voted no, making the vote 3-2. However, Judge Armstrong, even though usually judges don’t vote unless there is a tie, said he wished to vote, and voted yes, creating an actual 3-3 tie vote.

Due to the fact a majority did not vote in favor, the motion failed, but the judge indicated the issue would probably be brought back up at a later date.

Judge Armstrong then told the court he had been looking for a pindle hitch trailer with air brakes to be used to haul the county’s back hoe. He said that Steve Wallace had an almost like new trailer he was willing to sell for $6,500, about a third of the amount of a new trailer. Magistrate Riddle made a motion to purchase it, which passed by unanimous vote.

With no other items of business on the agenda and no public comment, the meeting was adjourned.

The next regular meeting of Clinton Fiscal Court is scheduled for Thursday, September 17 at 5 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the courthouse and is open to the public.