The Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG) is conducting workshops statewide on how to prepare a budget for county governments.

            County judge/executives, magistrates and county commissioners, county finance officers, and county treasurers are encouraged to participate in the half-day workshops.

            DLG Commissioner Darrell Brock, Jr. said the sessions provide local officials with the knowledge and tools necessary to prepare a budget and to run the day-to-day operations of a county. “In addition to reviewing the budget preparation process, local officials will be reminded of other statutory requirements related to the budget process.

            “DLG also realizes an opportunity to learn about front-burner issues, discuss any problems local fiscal agents are tackling and find solutions,” stated Brock.

            Cordell Lawrence, the new director of DLG’s Division of Financial Services, said workshop topics will include the budget preparation process, electronic reporting, debt reporting, training hours, and calculating property tax rates.

            “The Department is focusing its energy on electronic reporting and finding ways to make the process less complicated for local leaders,” said Lawrence. “I’m also looking forward to meeting local leaders and visiting the area development district offices across Kentucky.”

            County officials will receive three training hours under the Local Officials Training Incentive Program.

The budget workshops will be conducted at the offices of the area development districts (ADD) unless otherwise indicated.  The time of each workshop is 9 a.m. until Noon. Dates and locations are as follows:

Monday, Feb. 23          Lincoln Trail ADD, Elizabethtown

Tuesday, Feb. 25         Gateway ADD, Owingsville

Thursday, Feb. 26        Northern Kentucky ADD, Florence

Friday, Feb. 27             Cumberland Valley ADD, London

Monday, March 1         KIPDA, Louisville

Tuesday, March 2         Big Sandy ADD, Prestonsburg

Wednesday, March 3    Lake Cumberland ADD, Russell Springs

Thursday, March 4       Bluegrass ADD, Lexington

Tuesday, March 9        Green River ADD, Owensboro

Wednesday, March 10  Kentucky Dam Village, Gilbertsville*

Thursday, March 11     Barren River ADD, Bowling Green

Tuesday, March 16       FIVCO ADD, Catlettsburg

Wednesday, March 17  Buffalo Trace ADD, Maysville

Thursday, March 18     Kentucky River ADD, Hazard