Perry County’s budget season enters its decisive phase this week as the County Council prepares to meet on Thursday, September 25, following a string of workshops and a commissioners meeting that carried nearly $890,000 in claims and other high-dollar items. The commissioners gathered on September 16, where their agenda included accounts payable claims totaling close to $890,000, along with payroll and health insurance claims.

They also accepted letters of interest for an open Hospital Board trustee position and discussed issuing a request for bids on countywide reassessment. Final approvals from that session have not yet been publicly released, leaving an important gap in the record as the Council now takes up its role. Leading into Thursday, the Council has already held budget workshops earlier this month, setting the stage for line-by-line debates over spending priorities.

These deliberations will shape the county’s approach to infrastructure upkeep, law enforcement funding, and basic services residents depend on every day. The reassessment process, once underway, will also determine future property tax obligations across Perry County. Other county boards are also meeting this week. The Alcohol Beverage Board and the Parks and Recreation Board both convene on Tuesday, September 24.

While their agendas are narrower, their decisions often tie into the larger county budget picture, especially in areas like recreation programming and licensing revenue. Why this matters: Perry County households will feel the impact of every decision made in these sessions, from property tax levels to the reliability of local services. With claims approaching a million dollars already in play and reassessment looming, the choices made by council members this week will ripple far beyond the courthouse. The official agenda for Thursday’s Council meeting has not yet been posted, so residents will need to watch closely as details emerge.

What is clear is that the decisions ahead are not just routine bookkeeping.

They are the backbone of how the county funds itself and plans for the coming year. For residents of Tell City and the wider county, public attendance is not just welcome but essential. When money is allocated and assessments recalculated, the consequences touch every family, business, and farm. This week offers a rare opportunity to see those decisions made in real time — and to have a voice in the process.