06/04/2026
Over the last few days, I have received several questions about the proposed County budget, particularly regarding the Murray-Calloway County Park funding.
Many people have asked, "If the Park was cut from $90,000 to $0, where did the money go?"
The answer is not as simple as moving $90,000 from one line item to another.
I have attached a comparison of the current FY 2025-26 General Fund budget and the proposed FY 2026-27 General Fund budget so everyone can see the numbers for themselves. The budget is public record, and I believe the people deserve transparency and access to the facts.
The attached images are screenshots of a spreadsheet I created that put both budgets (FY 25-26 and FY 26-27) side by side. The next column is the difference. A positive number indicates that the line in the budget went up, and negative number reflects where a cut was made. The last column is the percent change for that line item between FY budgets. The numbers in red, indicate pass-through revenue, typically from grants. Also, this is just the "general county budget" which links to the Road Department and Jail budgets. It is estimated that the transfers from the General to those budgets will have to made throughout the year. It is estimated to be about $1.3M and $1.8M, respectively.
The proposed General Fund budget increases by approximately $210,000 over the current year. However, many expenses also increased. Some departments saw increases, some saw decreases, and some remained essentially unchanged. The Sheriff, elections, employee benefits, and animal shelter operations all saw increases, while other areas experienced reductions.
One important point that has not received much attention is that while the Park line item was removed, a new County Contingency line item of $80,000 was added to the budget. During budget discussions, it was indicated that organizations (non-profits) seeking county assistance could request funding through that process. That does not replace the previous Park allocation, but it is important context for understanding the entire budget picture.
For those who may not follow county government closely, it is also important to understand that many county expenses are either mandated by state law or are essential public services. The county must help fund the jail, maintain 683 miles of county roads and bridges, support public safety, provide animal control services, conduct elections, and meet numerous other obligations. Much of the flexibility people assume exists in the budget simply is not there.
That does not mean I agreed with every budget decision.
I have publicly stated that I did not support reducing the Park allocation from $90,000 to $0. I believe the Park is one of our community's greatest assets. My family has used it for years, and I know firsthand the value it provides to families throughout both the city and county.
At the same time, serving as a magistrate requires looking at the entire financial picture. Every dollar allocated to one purpose is a dollar that cannot be allocated somewhere else. The difficult question is never simply, "Should we fund the Park?" The difficult question is, "If we add funding to the Park, where should those dollars come from?"
Those are not easy decisions.
As we move through the remainder of the budget process, I will continue looking for opportunities to be fiscally responsible while also supporting important community priorities such as the Park. If the budget is adopted without additional Park funding, I am open to exploring whether funds can be reallocated later in the fiscal year if the Fiscal Court chooses to do so.
I have always believed that good government starts with honest conversations. If anyone would like to discuss the county budget, I am happy to sit down and walk through it line by line. Not to convince anyone they are wrong, but so we can all better understand the challenges, opportunities, and realities facing Calloway County.
My responsibility is to be a good steward of the taxpayers' money, and I take that responsibility seriously.
Lastly, it’s important to remember that this is a budget. A budget is a plan, not a final accounting. Just like a household budget, adjustments are sometimes necessary as circumstances change throughout the year. That’s a normal part of responsible financial management.
