Members of the community, as well as Hopkinsville City Council and Christian County Fiscal Court, were on hand Monday morning to speak with state legislators about the issues they are facing to help correct the state’s pension issue.
Chief Financial Officer Robert Martin presented what the city will have to pay into the pension over the next ten years to Third District State Senator Whitney Westerfield, Eighth District State Representative Walker Thomas, and Ninth District State Representative Myron Dossett. Martin reports the increase will cost the city over $66,673,000 through 2029.
During his presentation, Martin also shared what cuts each department would have to make if the city did not increase taxes to help cover the soaring costs. Some of the cuts could include the closure of the fire station on Canton Pike, putting all building maintenance funds on hold, Hopkinsville Police Department officers only being able to work felony crimes, among others.
Representative Thomas says a local alcohol tax could help and he is in favor of seeing it implemented.
He adds they are also looking into being able to implement a restaurant tax in cities like Hopkinsville.
Alcohol tax money goes to help law enforcement offices and the restaurant tax goes to fund tourism efforts, both of which would help the city utilize other funds to help with the pension issue.
Senator Westerfield says the city is looking at a bleak financial picture and does not like the idea of the city possibly having to cut some of its services.
Representative Dossett says they need to take the state’s pension issue seriously and get it fully funded.
All tend to agree the city needs the other taxes to bring in additional revenue, so they don’t have to cut any services.
Mayor Carter Hendricks urges everyone to call the legislators to let them know what they are going through.
At this time, Hopkinsville City Council has not voted on any recommended increases to taxes to help raise additional funding. Martin adds the city has over $8,000,000 in excess revenue from previous years that could help fund the rising pension costs through 2023, but if any emergencies happen the city would have a hard time getting the funding needed.
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