WQXE News

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.

The court approved a resolution setting 2026 property tax rates for the county, with the county adopting a 4 percent revenue increase, setting the rate at 10.7 cents per $100 valuation. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul recommended the 4 percent increase rate, noting that the increased rate is actually lower than last year’s tax rate.

“This decreases the current real estate property rate of 10.8 cents, what it was last year, to the recommended 10.7 cents per $100 valuation, and again, this is due to a growing county with almost a $1 billion increase in real estate property valuation,” Taul said.

Taul said the estimated net revenue from the tax rate is about $10.35 million. The Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service (1.80), the Hardin County Soil Conservation District (.20), and the Lincoln Trail District Health Department (2.20) each elected to take the compensating rate and remain at last year’s rates. No comments were made during a public hearing on the tax rate.

In other meeting news, the court approved a resolution on second reading that made text amendments to the county’s Zoning Ordinance. Hardin County Planning and Development Director Adam King said the changes, which were recommended for approval by the county’s Planning Commission, mostly “mimic state law.”

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Branch Manager Bow Warren presented on Hardin County projects included in the KYTC Rural Secondary Program, which is funded by 22.2 percent of revenue from the state’s motor fuel tax. The plan includes routine maintenance and traffic, an asphalt resurfacing project on KY 920, and an asphalt base repair on KY 920.

“Our entire program for this year is estimated at $1,544,643 for Hardin County,” Warren said.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet September 22.

Kentucky small businesses that employ 50 or fewer full-time employees are encouraged to apply for the Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit program.

“Tax credits are available to eligible companies that added at least one new full-time employee and invested more than $5,000 in qualifying equipment or technology within the past 24 months,” said Governor Andy Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update.

Qualifying businesses may be eligible to receive a state income tax credit ranging from $3,500 to $25,000 through the program. The credit awarded is dependent on the number of jobs created and the amount of investment in new equipment and technology. Since its inception, more than $17.4 million in tax credits have been earned through the program based on the creation of more than 5,100 jobs and more than $53.7 million in investments.

“Team Kentucky is committed to supporting our small businesses,” Beshear said. “We know that you are the backbone of each and every community, so check out this application. If you qualify, make sure you apply for it. We want to help you grow, and we appreciate you.”

Learn more about the program and find the application at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov/Entrepreneurship/KSBTC. Business owners may also contact the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development at 1-800-626-2930 or email info@kyinnovation.com for more information.

Hardin County Government will begin offering the Hardin County Government Building as a monthly site for American Red Cross Blood Drives.

Hardin County Government Communications Officer Brian Walker said hosting the blood drives is an opportunity for the county to help bring the community together in support of a cause that impacts everybody’s lives directly or indirectly.

“It was, to me, kind of an obvious thing to use our public space at the County Government Building to bring in the Red Cross at whatever kind of schedule they would like, whatever would work for them, and it looks like we’re going to be able to do blood drives once a month,” Walker said.

The first monthly blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on September 21 on the third flood of the county building. The drives come at a time when the Red Cross has declared a national blood supply crisis.

“It waxes and wanes,” Walker said. “Sometimes things get us in a situation where people are well aware of how bad things are and that we need to donate blood, and then sometimes I think it just kind of slips from people’s minds. I’m not sure exactly what’s driving the lack of donations right now and what’s causing the shortage, but anything we can do can help.”

Schedule an appointment or find more information at www.redcrossblood.org.