In what was a quick and swift matter, the Trigg County Fiscal Court unanimously approved the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year Tuesday night — in what will be a 6.3% increase from $839,185 last year, to the now $889,600 upcoming.
Of the $60,000-plus financial infusion, $15,000 must be allocated for prisoner transport for this calendar — something Trigg County Treasurer Lucy Oliver Kyler said would be reimbursed in full by the Commonwealth.
Another line item — Social Security and retirement — comes to an extra $197,000 for a $1.09 million budget, but Kyler added that’s even a little less costly this year, falling from 26.95% to 26.79%.
The biggest changes in the Sheriff’s Office budget from this year and last include a $6,000 raise for the sheriff’s position, an $11,325 increase for the deputy salary pool, a $3,090 increase in office staff salary pool, a $5,000 expected increase in Deputy Sheriff overtime, a $10,000 increase for petroleum products such as gasoline and oil, a $5,000 increase in Judicial Center Security and a $1,000 raise in an Officials Training Benefit.
Sheriff Aaron Acree and his staff presented their budget earlier Tuesday to Trigg County’s fiscal budget committee, and Magistrate Mike Wright iterated the small increase was duly noted, discussed and expected.
Between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years, the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office experienced a $25,785 budget increase — in what was a simple 2% cost-of-living match.
Other news:
— In line with the weekend announcement and the Trigg County School District, the fiscal court unanimously approved and honored the renaming of the Trigg County Recreation Complex soccer pitch to “Josh Nichols Field,” celebrating the 20-year successful career of the former Wildcats boys soccer coach.
— In line with federal guidelines and the City of Cadiz, the fiscal court unanimously approved the addition of the “Juneteenth” holiday being added the county’s official calendar.
— Dennis Whitten again brought concerns of a lack of lighting for the intersection at 164 and Devils Elbow, with Judge-Executive Hollis Alexander noting the state hasn’t been able to give many updates on several potential road projects due to the last eight weeks of tornado relief across the state. Alexander did note that 164 on the other side of 139 toward Hopkinsville is in “horrific” shape overall.
Alexander and Magistrate Alana Baker-Dunn did point positive comments toward local and state officials for the quick response of repairing Hwy. 272, following a culvert failure and major pothole damaging the road.
— Alexander also noted Trigg County is approaching 300 active cases of COVID-19, the highest since the pandemic began in March 2020.