Dec. 12, 2025

CERS board votes to lower employer contribution rates

The County Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees voted unanimously at its Nov. 10. 2025 meeting to approve an employer contribution rate of 17.43% for CERS nonhazardous employees for fiscal year 2027, down 1.19 percentage points from the current contribution rate of 18.62%.

The rate will also decrease for CERS hazardous duty members. The FY27 rate will be 34.72%, down 1.01 percentage points from the current rate of 35.73%.

Education and Labor Cabinet releases September unemployment report

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted September 2025 unemployment rate was 4.7%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, an agency within the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.



The September 2025 jobless rate was unchanged from August 2025 and down 0.6 percentage points from one year ago.

Volunteers in 14 counties sought for foster review board

During this holiday season, the Citizen Foster Care Review Board is asking for volunteers to join a board to review cases of children in foster care due to dependency, neglect and abuse.

Volunteers make a difference in the lives of these children by providing court recommendations about each child’s care and placement.

Counties in the news: The latest headlines from across Kentucky

• Ohio County medical marijuana dispensary opening Saturday, first in state
• Floyd County fallen officers mural vandalized
• Over $500,000 in past due intangible taxes recovered in Bullitt County
• Caldwell Fiscal Court approves sale of former Health Department building
• Branscum recognized at fiscal court meeting for top 3 finish at statewide art contest
• Christian County Sheriff's Office actively pursuing hazardous retirement
• Harlan County approves removal of illegal structure
• Could KY’s ‘poster child for water woes’ finally get state money for improvements?
• AT&T fiber optic announcement highlights ongoing tornado recovery 

This Week in Photos

Emergency management directors from Lyon, Graves and Marshall counties attended a news conference announcing the completion of expanded high-speed internet access in areas affected by the December 2021 tornadoes.

The Grayson County Detention Center hosted jail staff from Henderson, Calloway, Ohio, Barren and Christian counties as they participated in WRAP VR trainings.

County clerks Brian D. Smith (Hardin County), Brett Barry (Washington County) and Jeanette Sidebottom (Nelson County) presented a check for $11,000 to the Carl M. Brashear Radcliff Veterans Center. These funds were raised by county clerks through the sale of license plate birdhouses.

Anderson County Judge/Executive Orbrey Gritton and his staff wore Christmas sweaters this week.

Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson congratulated the Donate Life Kentucky Trust on the opening of its new home office in Jeffersontown.

Christian County Sheriff's Office staff attended a community event at Jeffers Bend Recreational Area.

The Harlan County Clerk's Office is in the holiday spirit this week.

Pulaski County Attorney Martin Hatfield shows off a new window painting at his office, painted by artists John Stacy and Selena Combs.

Boyle County Sheriff's Office staff joined city police officers in the Shop with a Cop program.

Lyon County Judge/Executive Jaime Green-Smith presented resident Dennis Faulkner with a Kentucky Colonel commission. 

Paintsville/Johnson County Emergency Management Director Paul Burchett provided Sheriff Scott Hazlette with blankets to distribute to individuals in need during cold weather emergencies.

The Cumberland County VFW Post 5419 held its annual holiday meal this week.