Kentucky county governments are extensions of the state government that operate at a more localized level. County governmental operations are carried out by fiscal courts, which, in spite of their names, have no judicial role. Instead, they exercise legislative and executive power, similar to a city council or the general assembly. County governments have several […]
Category: Elections
Posted inElections
Why you should care about who your city’s mayor is
Mayors are the central executives of cities, right? That means they’re the boss, right? Well, usually but not always. Mayoral power, like legislative power, is dependent upon the type of government the city uses. Still, regardless of the exact powers of mayors, there are a handful of duties that carry across each government form. Mayors […]
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What does a school board do?
Across Northern Kentucky, local voters hold the power to decide who sets the vision for their schools — electing nonpartisan board members who oversee budgets, policies and superintendents. School board members are elected on a nonpartisan ballot in even-numbered years. Members serve four-year terms that are staggered so that no more than three members of […]
Posted inElection NKY 2026
What do Kentucky’s House and Senate do, and why should I care?
What you need to know What exactly do senators and representatives do, and how does that affect everyday people in Northern Kentucky? Both are state lawmakers who introduce and vote on legislation whenever the state legislature is in session. Both are elected to represent Kentuckians based on equal representation under the law. State senators and […]
Posted inElection NKY 2026
Inside LINK: Next year’s election has officially begun
Hang on, you may be asking. It’s 2025. How has the 2026 election already started? Nov. 5 is the first day Kentucky allows those seeking office to register with the Secretary of State for the Primary Election in May, one of two steps required to officially become a candidate. The other step is to register […]
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What does a county judge/executive do?
A county judge/executive is like the CEO or mayor of the county. Although the judge/executive has no judicial power, they are the chair and a voting member of the county’s fiscal court. Their main responsibilities are creating a county budget and administering the budget as approved by the fiscal court, overseeing the funds, appointing county personnel, […]
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What does a county attorney do?
Kentucky’s county attorneys handle the legal nuts and bolts that keep local government running smoothly. County attorneys’ terms are four years, and they are not term-limited. In Kentucky, county attorneys handle all misdemeanor crimes in District Court, while the elected commonwealth’s attorney prosecutes felonies in Circuit Court. The two offices often collaborate on investigations and […]
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From AI to housing, your decision at the polls will affect just about everything
When you go to the polls in May, you won’t be voting for president. But the races you are voting for will actually have a much bigger impact on your everyday life. You wouldn’t know that if you saw voter turnout in the 2024 primary election (it was an average of 11% between Boone, Kenton […]
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What’s the point of a city council (or commission or city manager)?
Local legislators’ primary responsibilities, whether in Kentucky or anywhere in the U.S., are to set local laws, tax policies, and allocate funding for public services such as police, fire and public works. They also work to encourage economic development and business growth, foster the pubic image and reputation of a city, (sometimes) issue zoning decisions […]
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What does a Property Valuation Administrator do?
What you need to know In Northern Kentucky, each county’s Property Valuation Administrator, or PVA, plays a central role in determining the amount of property taxes paid by individuals and businesses. The office is responsible for assessing the fair market value of key assets, including homes, land, vehicles, and watercraft, which serves as the foundation […]
