Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight recently presented his proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, council members discussed the budget and made amendments.
Knight proposed a $56.9 million budget, which is an 11.22% increase compared to the 2024-25 budget and does not include any tax rate increases. To start the meeting, City Budget Officer Gary Ruebush presented the budget to council members and spotlighted what’s changing and what’s staying the same.
Ruebush shared that the budget includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) wage increase for city employees, insurance increases, new positions and the loss of positions, which will cost $957,000.
The Hopkinsville Police Department’s payroll will decrease as some school resource officers join the Christian County School District Police Department. The Hopkinsville Fire Department’s payroll will increase as they work to staff the department’s fifth firehouse, which is under construction.
A new proposed position caused some disagreement among council members. A motion was made to remove the new Information and Technology Director position, but it did not pass.
The budget also includes the establishment of the Hoptown Helps Program, which was approved at a prior Hopkinsville City Council meeting. Ruebush says any 5013c nonprofits in Hopkinsville can apply for grant funds through the program, the deadline is May 31.
Further concerning nonprofits, the Pennyroyal Arts Council was not included for funding in this year’s budget. Council Executive Director Margaret Prim says they are already facing funding cuts and an additional cut from the city would pose further problems.
Prim says the council typically receives funding from the city, and without it, then she may have to reduce the number of programs for the upcoming season. Ward Six Council Member Travis Martin proposed an amendment to provide $44,000 in funding to the council from the Hoptown Helps fund, which was approved by the committee.
The committee did not pass the operational budget for the upcoming fiscal year and will discuss more amendments at the next Committee of the Whole meeting.