Budgets and health insurance were the main discussions at Christian Fiscal Court Tuesday morning.
First-reading of the budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 was approved unanimously—that $52 million spending plan comes with a four percent salary increase across the board for county employees, money for infrastructure and capital projects, and a projected four percent growth. It now heads to the state for approval, then once that happens, it will come back to Fiscal Court for final approval.
Health insurance remains a hefty expense for the county—Mack Majors with Higgins Insurance explained that Christian County is not alone in that, as everyone is experiencing increased costs. He says the claimant cost has increased roughly 27 percent.
He says there are several ways they were recommending that costs be offset—they will be asking for county employees to help out some, by increasing employee contribution by $25 for singles and $50 for family plans.
Majors says one thing they’re recommending is offering is a benefit program for those employees who have health insurance through another entity and may need a little help covering medical costs.
Ultimately, magistrates approved the recommendations.
Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam was pleased to inform the magistrates that they money they lent to the Hopkinsville Industrial Foundation has since been reimbursed, after the details were finalized and the spec-building has officially been sold.
In other action, magistrates approved the adoption of the Land and Water Conservation Grant, with those funds to be used for continued upgrades at the Western Hills Golf Course.