Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam and the budget committee took time Monday morning in Hopkinsville to outline what is the original draft of the 2025-26 ledger, focusing on a five-point plan for the community.
In the 30-plus hours of planning, Gilliam said the body kept a quintet of strategic goals in mind:
1) Maximize a relationship with Fort Campbell
2) Optimize local natural and manufacturing resources to grow Christian County
3) Continue to focus on population growth and housing expansion
4) Proactively pursue financial stability
And 5) Enhance the safety and security of Christian County families
Gilliam noted this next budget is hovering around $52 million — $5.3 million less than the current one — but that this didn’t necessarily mean curbed spending.
American Rescue Plan Act funds are coming off of the revenue line, and final payments for the fiber internet buildout with Pennyrile Electric, valued at more than $4.5 million, are sun-setting soon after efforts alongside Kentucky Utilities address internet service north of Crofton.
Gilliam also noted that while other costs are afforded in this budget, the county’s main responsibilities are public safety, the Christian County Regional Animal Shelter, the county attorney’s office, county roads, agency funding (like libraries and other organizations), the coroner’s office and the stewardship of county buildings.
With an ad valorem of 17.6 cents per $100 of assessed value, Gilliam added that the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library receives 1.16 cents, the Christian County Jail receives 5.91 cents, the Christian County Sheriff’s Department receives 7.59 cents, ECC receives 1.26 cents, and Hopkinsville Fire/EMS ambulance efforts receive a third of a cent.
Christian County, he said, continues to avoid a need for a 1% occupational tax, but if it were ever raised, it would add more cash liquidity than the current ad valorem.
Among the biggest changes for next year: a rising cost in health, property and casualty insurance, a promised 4% raise for all county employees, and expected inflationary prices on road materials — particularly asphalt.
Capital projects the fiscal court has its eye on, according to Gilliam, include, but are not limited to: a repaired exterior for the judge-executive’s office, considerable upgrades for the Christian County Regional Animal Shelter, demolition of the now-condemned Weber Street building, a new HVAC schedule for the 60 units at the Christian County Judicial Center, the total revamp of the Alhambra Theatre’s audio and sound quality, and full schematics on a historically remodeled courthouse and its surrounding property.
Other major priorities on the periphery, he said, are the continued support of Community Development Services and its push for improved subdivision guidelines, the expansion of I-24 in Christian County, and a $500,000 increase to outside agency spending — now up to $2.6 million.
The budget committee is comprised of magistrates John Bruce, Russ Guffey and Phillip Peterson.
If approved during Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting, it will be shipped to the Department of Local Government and earn a second reading in mid-June.
