SALYERSVILLE – The Magoffin County Fiscal Court met in special session on Friday, September 18, discussing road funding and potential opioid- abatement funding projects.
The court approved the following fund transfers from the road fund to the general fund: $26,000 that the county had loaned the county and won’t have to be paid back; and $230,000 that the county will be paying back to the road fund; from the general fund to the jail fund: $90,000; from the general fund to the LGEA fund: $15,000; and $21,533 from the state and federal government abatement fund for ambulance services.
Magoffin County Judge/Executive Don McFarland said he has a meeting scheduled with Judge Kim Childers and Judge Dennis Prater to discuss ways to lower the county’s jail bill, which is currently running at around $50,000 a month. This month was higher due to an inmate having to go to the emergency room, which also must be covered by the respective county. He said Magoffin’s is higher than other counties’ bills which are also part of the regional jail, and he hopes to be able to significantly lower the county’s jail costs by looking into alternative avenues for low and medium risk cases.
The fiscal court approved an agreement and resolution with the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid for Fiscal Year 2027 Rural Flex Program Funds. Deputy Judge Kevin Howard explained this program has a quick turnaround, getting the funding to counties to fix the approved roads. Judge/Executive McFarland said they, including Deputy Judge Howard and the magistrates, have worked hard to secure the funding to fix the roads.
“Hopefully things are looking up for us, but we kind of have to take the worst first and go from there,” McFarland said.
The court officially received the tax rates from all taxing districts, to be placed on the tax bills. The fiscal court receives the rates from the other taxing districts, but cannot set those rates.
They approved incentive pay for elected officials upon completion of hours, as required by the Department of Local Government.
The court considered applications from Herald Whitaker Middle School, South Magoffin Elementary and the Knott/Magoffin Drug Abuse Council for the opioid-abatement funding. Judge McFarland said he’s reviewed the applications and this is funding they have that won’t have to be paid back. He said all seem to be good fits for the funding requirements and they total around $20,000. The court approved the three applications for the use of opioid-abatement funding.
The Magoffin County Fiscal Court’s next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 20 at the Magoffin County Court House Albert Patrick Building.
