Greenup County accepts historic sheriff�s excess-fees payment; part moved for loan repayment

Sheriff Matt Smith delivered what county officials called the largest excess-fees payment in Greenup County history: $353,707.84, presented to the fiscal court during its March 10 meeting.

"Again, this is the largest check-in the history of Greenup County to come back to the fiscal court from the Sheriff's Office: $353,707.84," Judge Bobby Hall read and the court accepted the check. By motion and voice vote the court directed $150,000 of the amount to a yearly loan repayment with the sheriff's office and moved the remaining $203,707.84 into excess-fees funds.

The court also accepted a related disbursement check for $353,422.20. Treasurer Sharon Bates reported that the general fund will be increased by $202,104.06 to account for excess fees, and she proposed several interfund transfers the court approved (including general to road $100,000; general to jail $200,000; general to 9-1-1 $150,000).

County Attorney Matthew Warnick separately asked the court to authorize Judge Hall to enter a separate opioid-litigation settlement to ensure Greenup County receives its portion; the court approved that authorization. Officials said the excess-fees funds will help cover rising costs and recent disaster-response needs but provided no long-term allocation plan at the meeting.

The court approved the financial items by voice vote. Details such as how the excess-fees balance will be allocated in future budgets were not specified at the meeting.