By JAMES BROWN
Glasgow News 1
The Barren County Fiscal Court has approved on first reading the county budget for fiscal year 2026-2027.
During a special-called meeting Thursday morning, Magistrate Marty Kinslow gave the top-line numbers for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Kinslow is the chair of the budget and finance committee.
The general fund budget will be approximately $10.7 million, which is about $200,000 less than last year’s budget, Kinslow explained during the meeting. He said despite rising costs, the budget committee was able to find some savings from the previous budget.
The county road budget will be nearly $1 million less than the previous year’s budget. Kinslow said the state is giving less money for the next budget than it did for the present one. The 2026-27 road budget is $3.4 million. The 2026-26 budget was $4.3 million. The road budget is funded totally by the state via money collected with the fuel tax. The reason the road budget is less in the 2026-27 budget is because the state is giving the county less money, Kinslow explained.
The fiscal court will have a second reading on the budget at its June 2 meeting.
Judge-executive Jamie Bewley Byrd said the budget must go to the state for review and approval before the second reading vote.
The fiscal court also approved the paying of several invoices, and heard department reports. There were also presentations from Bridge KY, and NET Recovery.
This story will be updated with more details.
Barren County Sheriff Kent Keen gives an update on his department during the Barren County Fiscal Court meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Barren County Coroner Tim Gibson gives an update on his office during the Barren County Fiscal Court meeting on May 21, 2026. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
