City council approves budgets for upcoming fiscal year

Hopkinsville City Council approved the fiscal year 2018-19 operational budget upon first reading for a second time at Tuesday’s meeting and approved a community development block grant budget.

Mayor Carter Hendricks explained that an error was found in the language of the budget after the first reading at the last city council meeting, and so they brought the $36.4 million budget back to council after fixing the problem.

The budget will be read a second time at a special called meeting Thursday before the Hopkinsville Committee of the Whole meeting. Mayor Hendricks says this budget also includes $649,000 to the municipal road aid fund, which is 33 percent more than last budget to go towards road projects.

A hefty chunk of the budget will go towards police, fire department, the ECC and publics work—approximately 60 percent. The $2.4 million capital budget was approved on second reading.

Council also approved a $253,341 community development block grant budget that can be used for things such as home improvement plans, rehabilitation programs, the Boys and Girls Club funding and program administration costs.

Recently promoted Hopkinsville Fire Department officers Battalion Chief Michael Henderson, Captain William Nightingale and Lieutenant Chad Sivills were recognized and sworn in at the meeting.