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Daviess County Budget Contains Employee Raises, No New Taxes

Daviess County Fiscal Court’s next proposed budget has no plans for borrowing money or tax increases. The $74.1 million spending blueprint unveiled this week also calls for county employees to receive 1.5% raises.The Messenger-Inquirer reports Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly says he wants county employees to receive a 2% raise.

One of the biggest challenges facing the county is the rising cost of funding retirement plans for public workers. The budget proposed for 2012-2013 calls for $2.3 million for payments into the Kentucky Retirement System—that’s up from $1.8 million from two years ago.

Mattingly says Daviess County has saved enough cash to pay for needed equipment such as a pumper truck for the fire department and a dozer for the county landfill without adding new debt.

One way the county is saving future money is through a deal it made with the Riverpark Performing Arts Center last year. The county previously gave $1 million to help retire the center’s building debt, meaning local government won’t have to kick in as much money in future budgets for the facility.

Kevin is the News Director at WKU Public Radio. He has been with the station since 1999, and was previously the Assistant News Director, and also served as local host of Morning Edition.