Hopkins County’s fiscal court is looking to cut around 5% of its annual budget due a decrease in coal severance tax revenue.
The proposed 2016 county budget totals about $26.5 million, that's less than the $27.9 million spending plan currently being used.
County Treasurer Cindy Jones says it's in-part due to a decrease in coal severance tax revenue and that the estimated $1.3 million shortfall will have to be taken out of department operating budgets.
“Pretty much every area of government has been cut by some," said Jones. "All departments have taken cuts in their line-items. There’s not much in there that didn’t change except those that couldn’t change.”
Other proposed cuts are slated for the planned county sports complex $100,000, animal control and the Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library.
Jones says the budget draft will be reviewed by the state before being approved by the court May 19th.
