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The Fiscal Court is the legislative branch of Nelson County Government. KRS 67.080 outlines the general duties of the Court, including appropriation of county funds for lawful purposes, purchase and sale of county property, supervision of the fiscal affairs of the county and county officers, and exercising all other corporate powers. Ordinances adopted by the Fiscal Court include provisions for the levy of property taxes, debt issuance, public health and welfare, natural resource management, public facilities construction and maintenance, interlocal agreements, provision of water, sewer, and garbage disposal, streets, roads and bridges construction and maintenance, police and fire protection, economic development, and historic preservation.
The Nelson County Fiscal Court meets at 9:00 AM on the first and third Tuesday of each month in the Community Room on the second floor of the “Old” Courthouse at the intersection of Stephen Foster Avenue and Third Street in downtown Bardstown. Special meetings are called periodically to address critical issues that must be addressed between regular meetings. Notices of special meetings must be provided to the public in accordance with KRS 61.820 and KRS 61.823. Meetings of the Fiscal court are subject to the Open Meetings Law in KRS 61.805 to KRS 61.850 and the public is strongly urged to attend Fiscal Court sessions.
Nelson County’s Fiscal Court takes an active role in the budget process. The County Judge / Executive’s proposed budget is discussed in detail during the May and June meetings. In addition, the Court receives monthly financial reports that compare the actual revenues and expenditures to the adopted budget. The court approves expenditure line-item transfers each month to modify the budget details. Changes to the revenues or department total expenditures are adopted by amending the budget with a revised budget ordinance.
Minutes of the Fiscal Court are maintained by the County Clerk as part of the permanent county records. County Ordinances (local laws) are the official written action of the Fiscal Court governing issues outlined above or which provides an appropriate of money. (Watch the web site as we convert these historical documents to electronic format and post on our website.) Proposed ordinances must be in writing and must contain a title and an enacting clause. Generally, the County Attorney drafts the legal documents for the Court’s consideration after discussion of the underlying policies and procedures. Ordinances must be read on two separate days, and are usually read by title and summary only. Publication of ordinances is required both before and after passage, in accordance with KRS 424.130. Amendments to proposed ordinances must also be published. And once an ordinance has been enacted, it can only be amended by ordinance.
One of the primary duties of the Fiscal Court is the responsibility to “pen, establish or alter” roads in accordance with KRS 178.115 and to appropriate county funds for road work. The Fiscal Court may provide for construction of roads either by the county or by contract. Contracts must be awarded to the “lowest and best” bidder. Nelson County has established a goal of $100,000 per district for resurfacing and road construction each year. Sixty-five percent (65%) of county road maintenance is funded with the state’s distribution of the gasoline tax. The remaining 35% in Nelson County is funded by the occupational license fee.
The Nelson County Fiscal Court approves requests for zone changes based on recommendations from the Joint City-County Planning and Zoning Commission. Visit their website at http://www.ncpz.com/ for more details about Nelson County’s zoning requirements.
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