County will receive quarterly payments to grow local economy
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$709,000+ of LATCF money goes into County’s General Fund
During their December 8, 2022 regular meeting, McCreary County Fiscal Court approved payment of the final two expenditures from Outdoor Venture Corporation’s (OVC) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Since CDBG guidelines require OVC to repay the federal dollars they received through the grant, with interest, to the local Industrial Development Authority (IDA) when all expenditures have been made and the grant account depleted, OVC will begin paying back nearly one million dollars in federal CDBG funds to the McCreary County IDA. McCreary County IDA expects to begin receiving quarterly payments from OVC in January, 2023. The money will be paid back over a period of ten years and must be used for economic development in McCreary County.
Also during the December meeting, McCreary County Fiscal Court approved the 2nd reading and gave final approval of County Budget Amendment Number 2. Amendment number 2 effectively transfers $709,869.98 of Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) money received by McCreary County for FY 2022 into the County’s General Fund.
LATCF dollars are funded under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and payment of the funding is based on the amount of federal property within each county, as defined by the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program and the Refuge Revenue Sharing program under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Population levels and various economic conditions such as historic poverty levels, unemployment, etc. are also figured into the final calculations. The Treasury set an annual minimum payment of $50,000 and a maximum of $6 million per county with an overall payment cap of $300 per resident.
ARPA has declared that LATCF funds are available “for any governmental purpose other than a lobbying activity.” These funds can be treated like general revenue funds or PILT payments. Examples of eligible uses include economic development, affordable housing, transportation infrastructure, and emergency services. Federal prevailing wage rate requirements will not apply to projects funded by LATCF, except for construction projects in Washington, D. C.
Seventy-two counties in Kentucky were eligible for the funding. Since McCreary County has such a large amount of federal land within its boundaries, it is not totally surprising that the County received the most funding at $709,869.98 followed by Clay County ($306,675.38), Trigg County ($283,282.98), Rowan County ($258,719.50), Laurel County ($253, 911.53), Pulaski County (250,902.05), Jackson County ($238,964.04), and Leslie County ($225,303.47). The remaining 64 counties received less than $190,000 in funding.
McCreary County is eligible for the same amount of funding in FY 2023.
In additional business, the court:
-Approved the 2023 Budget for Eric Haynes, County Clerk and approved the 2023 annual order setting maximum salaries for County Clerk’s Deputies.
-Approved transfer of $5,000 from the general fund to the ambulance/equipment replacement fund.
-Approved hires/transfers for EMS.
-Approved lengthening the Cameron Spradlin Road.
-Accepted bid and payment (($60,438.00) from EVAPAR for a generator for the McCreary County Park. The action locks in the cheaper price for the generator although the generator will be 30 weeks out from the company.
Fiscal Court also heard the following updates:
-The McCreary County Park received $200 in rental fees from Sand Hill RV Camp and $3,935 from the County Park.
-Tourism collected $1,220 in transient (lodging) tax.
-EMS had 403 runs (51 non-emergency) bringing in $135,725. 911 answered 820 calls.
-EMA Director Stephen McKinney is working with Kentucky Utilities in an attempt to get street lighting for Main Street in Whitley City. McKinney also wants the public to know the County Park gates are locked at 9:00 p.m. each night and opened at 7:00 a.m.
-County Road Supervisor Tony Kidd described work completed by the County Road Crews, including hauling off 1,089 tires. He noted the County will have approximately 400 tons of salt available for icy/snow covered roads if needed this winter.
-McCreary County Deputy Judge Executive Nathan Nevels gave an update on the Laurel Creek Reservoir Project noting the Job Corps has made a lot of progress in completing the walking trail.
-County Attorney Austin Price warned renters who “trash” up rental homes/apartments will be prosecuted.
The McCreary County Fiscal Court meets in regular session on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 at the McCreary County Courthouse.
