The Versailles-Midway-Woodford County Planning Commission voted 7 to 1

on March 14 to approve an amended budget for the current fiscal year and

a tentative budget for next fiscal year. Commissioners Rich Schein and

Lonnie Estes were absent.

Planning Director Steve Hunter said the preliminary budget for FY 2025

anticipates that the expenditures for staff health insurance and legal

services will increase significantly.

The preliminary budget shows health insurance increasing from $55,520

this fiscal year to $63,848 next fiscal year – a potential 15 percent

increase. Legal services for monthly meetings will jump from $12,000 to

$24,000 annually, but Hunter said a contract is still being negotiated

with current attorney McBrayer, PLLC in Lexington.

Hunter also acknowledged there has not been a change in the cost of

legal fees for several years and said the rate for legal services has

been fair – $1,000 a month and an hourly rate of $125 for legal services

beyond the monthly meetings. He also agreed that the commission can shop

for a different firm to provide legal services, which are proposed to

rise to $150 per hour for services beyond the monthly meetings.

The preliminary budget for next fiscal year has funding requests of

$140,239 from Versailles City Council and Woodford Fiscal Court, and

$35,061 from Midway City Council, which are the same as the current

fiscal year. It also includes a cost of living pay raise of 3 percent

for staff, but that could change depending on the pay raise given by the

cities and county, Hunter said.

During a budget committee meeting before the commission meeting, Hunter

said the carryover beginning balance in the preliminary budget for next

fiscal year is projected to be $224,834 – a decrease from the beginning

balance of $345,923 for FY 2024.

As of now, expenses ($675,948) are higher than revenues ($468,189) in

next year’s preliminary budget, Hunter said. He noted carryover dollars

will cover the deficit until this spring when fees for building permits

will bring in additional revenue.

After the city councils and Fiscal Court approve funding for the

commission, a recommended final budget for next fiscal year will come

before the commission for its approval before FY 2025 begins on July 1,

according to Hunter. He said the carryover balance for next fiscal year

could change in the final budget.