Henry County Local Newspaper

Budget sparks debate

Date of News Release: 05/25/2005
With a projected increase in revenue for the coming fiscal year, the budget discussion for the city of Campbellsburg should have been relatively uneventful.
It was anything but.
A 38 percent decrease in monies allocated to the town's fire department led to a heated discussion between advocates of the fire department, who pointed out the value of fire protection services, and disgruntled city councilors, who demanded more fiscal accountability from the volunteer group.
Mayor Carl Rucker explained that in looking at the city's allocation for the fire department, he discovered that of the $8,000 budgeted last year for capital outlay for the fire house, none of the money had been spent; therefore he lowered that amount to $6,500. The building used as the main fire station in town had been paid off last year, so that budget line item of $3,600 was zeroed out. Rucker maintained the quarterly payments of $1,000 to the fire department, but lowered annual savings toward the purchase of a new fire truck to $5,000, half of last year's budgeted amount. Last year's total budgeted amount of $26,600 was slashed 38 percent to $16,500 for the coming fiscal year.
"Part of the reason behind these changes was learning what the fire department got from the county," Rucker said. "And I'm hearing from people that if the fire department has money to buy property in Pendleton, why should the city give them money?"
Rucker pointed out that since the county enacted the per deed fire fee, the Campbellsburg Fire Department had received a considerable increase in its revenue. For the taxing year of 2003, that revenue totaled $69,139.36. This past year the fire department received a total of $68,731.53 from the per deed charge.
Rucker went on to say that the city doesn't charge the fire department any rent and furnished the building to them at no cost; so in effect, he said, the city saves the department up to $10,000 each year.
Fire Chief and City Councilor David Noe interjected with a brief description of how other cities support their fire departments.
"Most cities provide the building, pay for its maintenance, purchase new trucks, provide insurance and all utilities for their fire departments," Noe said. "It was my hope that getting the building paid off and in light of future annexation, that we would be getting a little more favorable consideration in the budget."
Noe pointed to the possibility of future annexation and expansion near the interstate and at the as-yet undeveloped industrial park on Highway 55 as primary reasons to continue funding the fire department at last year's level. He stated that the fire department was not currently equipped or trained to fight a fire at a three-story hotel, which is just one of the structures rumored to be built near Interstate 71 when that area undergoes development. He also said that he hopes to better the city's ISO insurance ratings, which would lower insurance rates and in turn attract businesses to the area. In order to make these improvements, Noe said, more money would be needed.
"We do get that $35 per deed on the tax bills now. That helps, but it's still about one-third of what we need to take in," Noe said. "People think that now we have all the money we need, but that's not the case. It does give us some extra money, but we're so far behind in replacing equipment that even at that rate the fire department is very underfunded compared to what it needs to be."
Rucker said that not knowing how much money the fire department needs and spends contributed to the city's reluctance to allocate funds to it.
"I don't mean to be rude or ugly, but there have been a number of times I have asked for a budget from the fire department, and it's been very difficult to get a budget from you," Rucker said.
Other councilors wondered if the fire department used city funds only for the Campbellsburg fire station or if city monies were used at either the Port Royal or Pendleton stations.
"We give you all money, but do you keep it in Campbellsburg? We don't know," Councilor Roger O'Nan said. "Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to get down on anybody. I know we need the fire department, but y'all don't tell us nothing. We don't know nothing about the fire department and what's going on with it."
Noe assured the council that city monies remained in town. He also admitted that he and his department members had not done a very good job of keeping up with paperwork or generating reports for the city.
"I know that we need to get our books in order and we're working on that," Noe said. "We do spend our money wisely, and any of you can come look at our books anytime you want to, and we'll start getting those reports to you."
Rucker pointed out that the budget could be amended, and that if the fire department worked on the "communication problem," the council would consider increasing its budget.
"I think if the fire department shows to the council members their genuine interest in keeping the council abreast of where every penny comes from and where every penny is spent, there will be no problem amending the budget," Rucker said. "For me, that's wherein lies a question."
The council conducted a first reading of the city's budget without changes. Minor changes could be made to the budget prior to the second reading, which is scheduled to take place June 20.

In other business,
the council:
included salary increases for the mayor and councilors in the first reading of the budget. The mayor's salary was increased from $75 per month to $300 per month and council members' salaries increased from $25 per month to $50 per month. The increases bring the annual expenditure for board per diem from $2,700 to $7,500.
tabled discussion of a proposed room tax and possible annexation;
and approved the amended 2004-05 fiscal year budget to reflect an increase in total appropriations from $194,100 to $208,500.
 

Robbery and Kidnapping at Campbellsburg Minit-Mart

Date of News Release: Thursday, 7/16/2004

(CAMPBELLSBURG, KY) - On July 16, 2004 at 3:46am received a 911 call advising that there had been a robbery at the Campbellsburg Minit-Mart in Campbellsburg, Kentucky. Kentucky State Police 911 dispatchers received another call from just outside of town. This second caller advised that he had a female employee from the Mint-Mart at his residence who advised that she had been kidnapped from the store while attempting to open the store for the day.

The Kentucky State Police are looking for possibly a white 1990's model utility van with ladder racks on the roof (no ladders). There are no windows in the back of the van and the van had a screen between the cargo area and the passenger compartment.

We are also looking for a white male possible in his 20's wearing baggy shorts, dark tennis shoes, and a light colored bandana. He was accompanied by a white female (no description at this time).