Mayor James R. Knight Jr. will give his budget address at 9 a.m. Friday, May 2, at the Hopkinsville Municipal Center.
The spending plan will highlight Knight’s “Growing Home” initiative, “which prioritizes quality of life, public safety, economic development, city cleanliness and staff support,” states a press release from the mayor’s office. This will be Knight’s third budget proposal since taking office in 2023.
The budget address in council chambers is open to the public, and a livestream will be available on the city’s YouTube channel.
Hopkinsville City Council has the final vote on the budget, which must be approved before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1. Two votes by city council are required to adopt a budget. Typically, the council votes on the budget during meetings from late May into June.
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According to the mayor’s release, key areas of focus in budget include:
- Enhancing public safety services and resources
- Advancing economic development opportunities
- Investing in city cleanliness and beautification
- Supporting the recruitment, retention and development of city staff
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
