Most of it earmarked for the I-69 project
If there’s anything that stands out for Henderson County in the recently ended General Assembly legislative session, no doubt it’s the money coming back for local projects. Local legislators say the session was a slam dunk for Henderson, evidenced by the more than $394 million that will go to projects here in the next two years.
“I’d say it’s one of the biggest returns of state tax dollars to Henderson County in a long time,” state Sen. Robby Mills told the Hendersonian, adding the county is “getting closer to what I consider our fair share.”
State Rep. Jonathan Dixon echoed that, saying he’s happy what he and Mills “were able to accomplish for Henderson.”
Of the $394 million cited in a release from Mills’ office, the vast majority—$377 million—is earmarked for work on Section 2 (the bridge section) of the I-69 project.
Almost $17 million will be used for other work around the county. According to a release from Mills’ office, the funding includes:
- $6.6 million for widening and improvement of Watson Lane from Sunset Lane to Green River Road and the Watson Lane/Highway 41 North intersection
- $2.9 million for a new entrance on Watson Lane to Audubon Park
- $1.7 million for widening and adding a turn lane on Airline Road at the new City Sports Complex
- $1.9 million for a new bridge on Airline Road over Canoe Creek
- $3 million for Twin Bridge maintenance work
- $885,000 in road maintenance funds for Henderson County that will flow through our regional MPO
The budget also included $8.5 million to construct a conference center where an old beach house currently stands in Audubon State Park. Additionally, the funding to build a road and entrance in the park was previously reported by this newspaper as $1.025 million, but that number is $2.9 million (as seen in the list above).
Mills pointed out smaller local projects that will receive state funding, including $300,000 to the Harbor House building fund, $200,000 to the Henderson Airport and $100,000 to the Henderson Boys & Girls Club. And the Henderson Riverport will get $1.5 million, he said.
Dixon said he and Mills had been advocating for the funding for the local projects for a while and this was a session when the money came back to Henderson.
Both legislators, Dixon said, have a “go get it” attitude and fight “for Henderson’s fair share.”
But also, across the state, legislators looked for—and found—opportunities in which funding could kickstart a local project with a one-time cash injection, which would help a community with economic development, Mills said. Billions of dollars were allocated for these projects statewide.
Another of Mills’ accomplishments, though not in Henderson County, could help communities in western Kentucky get new police offices on the street more quickly. Funding allocated for a Department of Criminal Justice Training center in Madisonville—at $50 million—would hopefully alleviate a backlog of cadets waiting to get into training at the state’s lone police training facility in Richmond, Mills said. He said once a new officer is hired currently, it can take up to eight months before he or she starts training at the facility.
The number one priority the legislature is tasked with in even-numbered years is to pass the state budget for the next two years.
Aside from budget-related bills, Dixon was particularly proud of HB 596, an annexation bill which he took the lead on writing. It is an attempt to create intergovernmental agreement between cities and counties when a city annexes county land. Dixon said the law requires cities and counties to come up with a path forward when a city annexes undeveloped land. When a city annexes developed and/or residential areas, a cost-sharing and revenue sharing formula is in place, he said.
“This is probably the most exciting, politically charged and volatile policy I’ve been a part of,” he said.
Additionally, Dixon has also been an advocate of tax reform. He and Republicans want to decrease income tax to zero. Past legislation in place allows for a 0.5% decrease each year that state revenue figures trigger that reduction.
Revenue figures released last summer didn’t trigger the reduction. Dixon said it will be interesting to see the revenue projections in July considering the myriad one-time investments the legislature made around the state—and if the revenue will trigger a reduction next year.
The massive crime bill passed this year, HB 5, Dixon said, was a result of constituents’ “calls for help” to keep streets safe and to get tough on fentanyl and drug trafficking. He said the bill is tailored to reduce crime.
Critics argued that the tough on crime bill will add inmates to one of the most heavily incarcerated states in the U.S. Furthermore, per a January 25 Kentucky Lantern article, Kentucky has the world’s seventh highest rate of incarcerations, according to data analyzed by the Prison Policy Initiative in 2021.
Dixon, though, said he was never presented with data during the session that supported that assessment.
Critics also pointed out the punishment that could go to homeless people for sleeping outside was extreme. Dixon, though, believes that a citation issued to someone for sleeping in an unapproved area would push people to seek help from available resources.
Regarding this piece of the legislation, Mills agreed that people shouldn’t camp in unapproved areas, but also said that state and independent agencies must do a better job of helping homeless people (and others) with mental health problems. He said that making mental health a priority in jails may be something to be looked at.
He also agreed with Dixon that the legislation came about from calls from constituents who are tired of seeing those arrested serve little or no time for a crime.
Additionally, Mills sponsored SB 349, which puts steps in place to make it more difficult to retire coal-fired plants. Among other provisions, the legislation requires a power plant to apply to the Public Service Commission before it can close, and the PSC must hold a public meeting in the county of the plant’s location before it can be retired.
Mills’ support of this bill stems from his belief that solar, wind and other energy sources are not as reliable as coal. He said if a breakdown occurs in the grid, coal can supply quick energy that renewables can’t, allowing for increased public security.
This legislation also includes the creation of a new committee, the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission, which will study energy policy and file reports to the PSC, the governor and the Legislative Research Commission.
Finally, Mills mentioned the school choice amendment which will be on the ballot in November as significant. He believes funding should follow individual students, allowing them to go to their school of choice.
He also said new SEEK funding should allow teachers to get a 3% raise each year, distributed by individual school systems. Gov. Andy Beshear had proposed in his budget an 11% across the board increase for teachers statewide.
Meanwhile, Dixon’s time in Frankfort ends Dec. 31. He’ll be replaced by local teacher J.T. Payne, who is running unopposed for the District 11 representative seat.
Now, the bulk of what’s left for Dixon are committee meetings and any special session that may be called. He’s back on the family farm in Corydon getting corn and soybeans planted. But he left it open that one day he may return to politics.
“You never know,” he said.
