Dec. 6, 2024

CERS board votes on employer contribution rates for FY 2026

Employers contributing to the County Employees Retirement System (CERS) will pay a lower rate next fiscal year.

The CERS Board of Trustees voted unanimously at its Dec. 2 meeting to approve an employer contribution rate of 18.62% for CERS nonhazardous employees for FY 2026, down 1.09 percentage points from the current contribution rate of 19.71%.

The rate also will decrease for CERS hazardous duty members. The FY 2026 rate will be 35.73%, down 2.88 percentage points from the current rate of 38.61%.

The FY 2026 rates will take effect July 1, 2025.

ARPA deadline approaching: What counties need to know before Dec. 31, 2024

With the Dec. 31, 2024 deadline for obligating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) quickly approaching, counties nationwide are assessing how best to allocate these critical resources.

The deadline means counties must not only allocate these funds but also have contractual commitments in place before the year ends.

Committee leaders announced for Kentucky Senate

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Clay County) announced this week the legislators who will serve as chairs and vice chairs of Senate standing committees and statutory committees during the 2025 legislative session.

“I am confident in each of these individuals and in the deep bench we already have,” Stivers said. “I’d also like to welcome our newest members to the Senate. I know each of them personally and am confident in their leadership.”

Attorney General Coleman sues opioid distributor OptumRx

A national pharmacy benefit manager has been added to a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky attorney general’s office alleging deceptive business practices that contributed to the opioid addiction crisis.  

Attorney General Russell Coleman recently added OptumRx and its affiliates to a complaint filed in September against Express Scripts, another prescription benefit manager, in Jessamine Circuit Court.

KACo data brief: State inmates in county jails

Kentucky counties have long been tasked with housing state inmates. A 1992 law shift required many Class D and some Class C felons to serve their sentences in county jails.

Today, 74 county jails—70 full-service and four regional—house a significant portion of the state’s prison population, with 36% of state inmates residing in county facilities as of November 2024.

Opioid Abatement Commission accepting grant applications

The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is accepting applications for 2025 grants from the state's portion of opioid settlement funds. The application period will close on at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. Counties are eligible to apply.

Fall protection remains top OSHA standard cited in 2024

OSHA’s Top 10 list of the most frequently cited standards for fiscal year 2024 doesn’t offer any surprises, including the appearance of Fall Protection – General Requirements at the top for the 14th straight time.

Check out the latest headlines from across Kentucky

A county moves forward on an opioid abatement project, the Warren County Sheriff's Office plans for a move, Knox County acquires a former bank building, Casey County looks to lower jail costs, Jessamine County Fiscal Court welcomes a new magistrate and more.

This week's roundup of counties in the news includes stories from Adair, Casey, Daviess, Hopkins, Jessamine, Knox, McCracken, Spencer and Warren counties.

Training Opportunities

Opioid Solutions Monthly Webinar Series

Throughout 2025, KACo will host a series of webinars about the use of opioid settlement funds, including examples of innovative county programs and best practices.

Currently, webinars are scheduled for 11 a.m. - noon, ET on the following dates in 2025: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13, April 10, May 8.

This week in pictures

Anderson County Judge/Executive Orbrey Gritton, right, Franklin County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller and Woodford County Judge/Executive James Kay speak during a panel at the Woodford County Opioid Summit. The panel was moderated by Woodford County Health Department Director Cassie Prather. 

KACo Opioid Settlement Advisor Lauren Carr was a featured speaker at the Woodford County Opioid Summit.

The Jessamine County Sheriff's Office held a ribbon cutting Thursday on its new sheriff's office.

Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore; his wife, Linda; Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson; his wife, Debra; and KACo 1st Vice President Michael Logsdon attended NACo's County Crossroads Symposium: A Journey Exploring the County Landscape this week in Sonoma, California.

Oldham County Magistrate Michael Logsdon, Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore and Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson show their state pride on Kentucky St. while attending the NACo Symposium in Sonoma, California.

Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell swore in the newest members of the Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association Executive Board members.

Calloway County Judge/Executive Kenny Imes, left, helped celebrate the ribbon cutting for the Health Services Clinic on Murray State’s campus. The clinic is under the direction of Dr. Maddie Ross. 

Congratulations to Scott County Sheriff Jeremy Nettles for completion of the National Sheriffs' Institute's Leadership Development Course in Quantico, Virginia. This program is provided by the National Institute of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice, in collaboration with the Major County Sheriffs of America.

Congratulations to McLean County for receiving Storm Ready certification from the National Weather Service.

The Warren County Fiscal Court honored Coach Tommy Compton Jr. with an official proclamation for his dedication to Warren County for more than 50 years of work in the Kentucky educational system.

Shelby County Judge/Executive Dan Ison and Deputy Judge/Executive Jon Park attended the 2024 Roads Scholar and Road Master graduation to celebrate Shelby County Road Department employees John Best, Leah Jefferies, Eliot Lopez and David Sharp graduating from the program. 

The Daviess County Clerk's Office is celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with dress-up days this month.

Lee County Judge/Executive Steve Mays and his wife, Vannah, thank all the Lee County children who dropped off Christmas letters to the courthouse mailbox.

Breathitt County Circuit Court Clerk James E. Turner poses with Breathitt County High School art teacher Scott Hollan and art students who decorated all of the judicial center windows in winter themes.

Oldham County Jailer Jeff Tindall and his staff have partnered with a local church to ensure that every inmate in his jail receives a care package this holiday season.