x
Breaking News
More () »

McCreary County leaders worry about shutdown's lasting impacts

Even though the shutdown is on pause, leaders in one small Kentucky county worry about its impacts.

MCCREARY COUNTY, Ky. — Even though the shutdown is set to go on pause for three weeks, leaders in one small Kentucky county worry about its lasting impacts.

"McCreary County is 70 percent or so owned by the federal government," McCreary County Judge-Executive Jimmie Greene said. 

He says that makes the shutdown especially tough.

Greene says the county of about 18,000 relies heavily on occupational taxes from many federal workers, but since the shutdown the county hasn’t gotten much.

"Due to the shutdown where normally we’d be bringing about $30,000 per month, so far we’ve received $1000," Greene said. 

That money funds day-to-day functions like ambulance services.

The county is also home to the Big South Fork National Park, Daniel Boone National Forest, and United States Penitentiary McCreary, which according to its website houses more than 1,400 male inmates.

Those federal workers missed their second paycheck Friday -- but should receive all the money they've missed through backpay when the government reopens temporarily. 

Affected workers aren't expected to see that backpay until next week, though. 

Greene said the prison can’t pay its water bill, but the utility is working it out with them--same with other local utilities with individual prison workers.

"You got stores and restaurants that depend on that money, you know, and where money’s tight, that makes a big difference," Greene said. "And here as far as the local government, you know, we can feel it. Eventually it’s going to start putting a real squeeze on us."

Before You Leave, Check This Out