SHEPHERDSVILLE – Confusion over amended budget plans led to a confusing discussion and a confusing vote on the Shepherdsville City Council.
City Attorney Katherine Dozier presented the second reading of ordinances amending the city's general budget, as well as its wastewater budget and the budget for the current 2025-26 fiscal year.
Early in the process, Councilman Mike Hibbard announced that the city could not amend a previous budget.
Mayor Jose Cubero said the president of the Kentucky League of Cities informed him that cities are changing their previous budgets. He mentioned that Shepherdsville hasn't done this in 15 years.
According to Cubero, the revised budget updated the previous year's actual income and expenses.
“We are now giving numbers that are actually correct today,” he said.
“We can adjust the transmission in the next household,” Hibbard said.
The mayor reiterated that the city had actually presented the correct figures for last year's budget.
“All we’re asking is to change them,” Cubero said.
“There has to be an easier way than reading line by line,” Hibbard said.
According to Dozier, the budget could be changed. She said the concern was that line items could exceed budget, adding that any such situation would have to be brought before council beforehand.
Councilman Brad Whittaker said KLC had warned about “cleanup ordinances,” while Hibbard said he would have to abstain from any vote.
“Would it help to bring the subject up,” Whittaker inquired.
“No, let's just get this out of the way,” Hibbard replied. “I think those numbers could have been given to us.”
Cubero said he believes the city is moving in the right direction regarding the budget process. He said officials may not know final budget totals in the future, adding that final funding issues require changes after the end of the actual fiscal year.
Council members Whittaker, Bonnie Enlow and Faith Portman voted to approve the amended city budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Council members Rob Adams and Jennifer Mendez were opposed, and Hibbard abstained. The same vote also took place for the wastewater budget.
Regarding the current city's amendment to the sewer department's budget, the vote was 5-0 in favor, with Hibbard abstaining.
In other stores:
– Cubero declared September 22, 2025 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Day in the city, saluting affected families and encouraging everyone to wear gold colors on the occasion.
– The next Shepherdsville City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13, 6 p.m., at the Shepherdsville Government Center on Conestoga Drive. The public is warmly invited to attend.