Clinton Fiscal Court held a special call meeting last Thursday morning, September 3 with five of six members present. The court dealt with tax issues and a resolution in support of a grant that would extend sidewalks north of Albany.

The court had recently voted to keep the county tax rates unchanged, as well as voting to approve the Soil Conservation District rate. However, County Attorney Michael Rains informed the court that the state required the rates be read into the record, which was not reflected or read at the prior court meeting.

Judge/Executive Richard Armstrong read the percentages for the record, those being the county tax rates at 6.5 cents per $100 assessed value on real property and 7.8 percent each on personal, motor vehicle and watercraft, all the same as last year.

The Soil Conservation District rate was read into the record at 1.69 percent on real estate property, with each being approved unanimously on separate votes.

The court then took up the issue of the County Library Tax, which was approved by the library board of directors at 3.7 percent on real property and 5.43 cents on personal. The motion to approve those rates set by the board was made by Magistrate Terry Buster but failed on a 3-3 vote. Magistrate Hershell Key seconded the motion to approve, but Magistrates Mickey Riddle, Ricky Craig and Patty Guinn each voted no, and Judge Armstrong again cast a vote to make the final count three to three.

Although the motion failed, the judge will put the tax rates back on the agenda for the court’s next regular meeting on September 17, when it is hoped all six magistrates can be in attendance.

The library rates reflected the four percent compensating rate recommended by the state, and is four percent above the total revenues from the previous year.

Librarian Gayla Duvall told the court the rate had been taken for about the past 15 years and was four percent of the existing rate. She also estimated it would raise taxes on $4,000 in property from .8 cents to .12 cents, or on $40,000 of property, about $1.20 more per year to each individual taxpayer.

The court noted, however, that regardless of whether the measure was approved by the court, it would only mean the rates would not be added onto the tax bill. However, taxpayers would still have to pay the library tax–it would only mean the library would be responsible for sending out its own tax bills, as county governments don’t have legal authority to halt a taxing district’s rates from taking effect, and basically the court’s vote to approve is only a formality and only keeps the bills from being added to the county tax bills.

Judge Armstrong told the court the library was very important to the young people in the county, as well as the elderly alike and recommended they consider approving the rates.

Magistrate Buster also noted the bookmobile operated by the library also provides a valuable service to people who cannot physically get out and visit the library personally.

Magistrates stressed they were in support of the library and the work it does, however, they noted the burden that many local residents are already under.

Magistrate Riddle said he knew of some people who were on fixed incomes that could barely afford to pay their bills and couldn’t even afford to come to town much. Magistrate Guinn also said her concern was with those on fixed incomes.

Duvall said the state had recommended the increase just to keep up with expenses to operate the library and said that the Clinton County Library’s income was 110th out of the 120 counties, but was the fourth highest in the state for children’s attendance for programs held for them.

She also noted the “rate was set” and the county couldn’t change it and it was then court members noted the only thing it would effect is the rates not being on county tax bills, but rather billed by the library separately. They agreed that putting the issue back on the agenda for another vote later this month was the best thing to do.

The court then was presented a resolution pertaining to a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) allowing judge Armstrong to apply jointly with the City of Albany, in obtaining a 80/20 matching grant of up to $250,000. The grant would be applied for through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Road and Municipal Aid, Office of Local Programs for funding and completion of the project.

TAP provides funding for surface transportation projects such as on and off road and bicycle facilities, infrastructure for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; safe routes to school projects; and projects for planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former interstate system routes or other divided highways.

The local grant, if approved, would go toward constructing sidewalks from around Talbott Funeral Home northward to the Mountain View Park/Clinton County Middle School area.

Judge Armstrong said the city and county, jointly, would be responsible for about $50,000 combined and the funds used would be reimbursable.

Albany City Council, at its regular meeting held two days earlier, had taken a similar vote allowing Mayor Nicky Smith to apply jointly with the county for the grant funding, a project the city has been working on for some time.

The state had recommended the project would have a better chance of being approved if the grant application was filed jointly between the two governments and mayor Smith said the amount required as a match could come in the form of in-kind services, such as labor and equipment.

A motion to authorize the judge/executive to apply for the TAP grant was made by magistrate Craig and passed by unanimous vote.

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