FISCAL COURT—Madison County leaders have announced plans to implement a schools-based opioid abuse prevention program. The Fiscal Court also advanced two more land-use changes and heard this year's property tax rates from various special-purpose governmental entities, all at the most recent regularly scheduled Fiscal Court meeting.

Drug abuse prevention partnership

County magistrates approved Resolution 2026-080, creating a memorandum of understanding between the Fiscal Court and Operation UNITE to provide school-based prevention services and related prevention support. 

The organization will use $4,000 of the County's Opioid Abatement Settlement fund to oversee a coalition of community members and the Madison County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, for various prevention activities across County's school district, Operation UNITE Area Prevention Coordinator Carl Varney told The Edge in an interview.

It's the County's first expenditure of its allotment from the state's Opioid settlement.

"We've always wanted to help Madison County, and because of budgetary restrictions and what we're able to do, our hands had been tied for this coming year," Varney told The Edge in an interview following the meeting. "So the Fiscal Court has decided to step in and make this happen."

The money will go towards the purchase and distribution of 500 saliva drug test kits to parents, which Varney said are an effective prevention tool. The money will also be used in County elementary schools for internet safety and cyberbullying prevention programs, as well as anti-vaping programs. At the middle and high school levels, the focus will be on teaching how drug use is viewed by the criminal justice system.

“The idea is we believe in prevention through relationships,” Varney told The Edge in an interview. “These kids need to know that we’re on their team.” 

Operation UNITE, which stands for "unlawful narcotics investigations, treatment and education," was founded by US Rep. Hal Rogers (R) in 2003, after news reports investigated the cause and effect of pervasive opioid addiction across Rogers' district. Eventually, UNITE expanded across all of Eastern and portions of Central Kentucky.

More zone changes

The Magistrates heard the first reading for Ordinance 2026-010, a land use change for 33.38 acres at 113 Carr Lane. The property is set to go from a single family residential zone to a multi family residential zone. They also heard a second first reading for Ordinance 2026-011, a land use change for 67.89 acres at 2485 Colonel Road, from agricultural to single-family residential.

The two zoning requests, if approved, would bring the total number of County acres rezoned for development since August to 1,301.27 acres. The next meeting is Sept. 22 in Richmond at the Fiscal Court Annex.

Both zone change requests were presented for public comment during a hearing by the Planning Commission on Aug. 18. The Fiscal Court will vote on the changes during its next regularly scheduled meeting on September 22.

Local agency tax rates

The court also heard from several special purpose governmental entities which presented their 2026 ad valorem tax rates to the court. 

Madison County EMS real property tax rate for 2026 will be 0.42 cents. Motor vehicle and watercraft rates will remain the same at 0.60 cents. 

“We are very goal-oriented on keeping that cost down but the service is high in maintaining the quality of EMS care that we can for our citizens here in the County,” Tonya Donselman, director of Madison County EMS.

Last year, Madison County EMS responded to more than 21,000 calls for service, which was among the highest call-out rate for any county statewide, according to Donselman, who said this was despite a shortage of paramedics in the region. To address the shortage, Donselman said her agency has partnered with EKU and both Ignite high schools to increase the number of paramedic education courses available to current and prospective County paramedics.

The Madison County Health Department’s tax rate has not changed from the year prior, at 0.47 cents per $100 for real property. The motor vehicle and personal property also stayed the same at 0.05 cents per every $100 of assessed value.

The Madison County Public Library has lowered its tax rate from 0.046 cents for personal and real property per every $100 of assessed value. The motor vehicle rate is at 0.35 cents for the same assessed value.

The Madison County Extension Office’s real property rate stayed the same at 0.18 per every $100 of assessed value, while tangibles are now taxed at are 0.272 cents per every $100.

Proclamation 

The Fiscal Court also recognized National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week for Sept. 13-19, 2026. Brandy Maggard, Assessment Specialist for Madison County Adult Education, accepted the proclamation.

“It is my honor to recognize National Adult Education and Family Literacy week and to celebrate the impact adult education is making right here in Madison County,” said Maggard. 

“This past year, 237 students were enrolled in those programs,” said Maggard. “Forty-four were individuals receiving services in correctional facilities, demonstrating that education and second chances can reach people wherever they are in their journey.” 

Maggard said the public library serves as their fiscal agent and provides the location for learning.  Maggard said they served 45 students through integrated education and training programs and 30 students participating in English as a second language services. During the 2026 fiscal year, 51 county students earned a GED credential, including six through correctional education programs. 

“Those numbers tell an important story, behind every number is a person and behind every credential is a story of perseverance,” said Maggard. “This success would not be possible without the dedication of our students, instructors, staff and community partners.” 

Retirement

Area fire fighters were in attendance to celebrate the retirement of Madison County Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeremiah "Bo" Tate, after 20 years of service to the Department.

The Madison County Fiscal Court meets each second and fourth Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. The next scheduled meeting will take place on the first floor of the County Annex. For more information, including links to the live-streamed meetings, visit the County’s website. 

This story was updated on Sept. 14, 2026 for accuracy around the ad valorem tax rates.