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Poorest County in Kentucky

McCreary County ranks #1 for the third year in a roll!

 

I have lived in this county my entire life. I love the forest, the river and nature. Just so you know, The Daniel Boone National Forest actually owns 43% of the county and 18% goes to the National Park Service, what we call the Big South Fork. It is great living in a small town with so much nature, but there comes a time when you need to look past the old ways and embrace the future.

When I say embrace the future, I'm talking about opening your arms to things that will help your county grow. We have 1 company who makes tents for the military, but there are 4 different factories, I believe. 2 grocery stores: Kroger and Save-a-lot. 1 Rite Aide. 2 Dollar Stores and 2 Family Dollars. About 10 places to eat, that's counting small places in the gas stations. Where do people work in this county? We need jobs and we need money. 

The county is poorer than dirt. According to our local paper, we are $350,000 in debt. How does this happen? We have no jail. We get loans from other counties to house our criminals. The jail we had was shut down because they said it needed to be redone. It will cost thousands of dollars to do this. Where does this money come from? And the bigger question,How do we get out of debt?

The county came to a conclusion that taxes needed to be raised. They wanted to raise restaurant tax and the taxes of residence in the county. ??? If you only have a few thousand people, about 2700 who work in the county, who will be taxed? According to the meeting the town had they want to tax everyone except government officials, teachers and I believe health care workers... Who is left to be taxed? The workers who work for minimum wage at restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations. It blows my mind. Does the county think this is the best action to crawl out of a debt with a county whose median income is 20,972 dollars? I think of the saying, 'squeezing blood from a turnip'.

Last year we had a chance to vote in alcohol. Where you could buy it in grocery stores. Before you get all crazy and say, no the kids will get a hold of it. Well, there are more bootleggers in this county then places to work.It's easier for them to get it now than from a grocery store. It didn't pass because the churches, a bunch, band together. We are surrounded by counties who got with the times and accepted what would help them. Would it help us? I don't know, but it couldn't have hurt us either.