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The job duties of Magistrate outlined Six of the seven Adair County Magistrates will be new to the job in the coming term. Here we look at specifics of what the job entails. By Mig Feuser / The Adair Progress While Adair County residents may know their local magistrates by name and district, Kentucky law makes clear that the true authority of those elected officials lies not in individual action, but in their work together on the Adair County Fiscal Court. Together with the Judge Executive and the County Attorney. Magistrates -- also known in state law as justices of the peace -- represent districts across the county and serve four-year terms. They must be at least 24 years old, have lived in Kentucky for at least two years prior to election, and reside in the district they represent. In counties like Adair, where the fiscal court is made up of the county judge/executive and magistrates, they form the legislative and administrative body that oversees county government. Their compensation is regulated by state law and depends in part on how much time they devote to county business. At the moment, the compensation for magistrates in Adair County is set at $ 855 per month, plus a training stipend if they complete their required training hours. Salaries must be set at the beginning of a term and cannot be changed during that term, though cost-of-living adjustments may apply. The compensation in Adair County was not raised for many years now. Despite the public visibility of the office, magistrates do not act as individual administrators. Their authority is exercised almost entirely when the fiscal court is in session. Outside of those meetings, they hold no independent executive power over county operations. Instead, their influence comes through votes and decisions made as part of the fiscal court. Under Kentucky law, the fiscal court is responsible for the overall operation of county government. That includes appropriating county funds, supervising financial affairs, and buying or selling county property. The court is also charged with maintaining county buildings, roads, and other infrastructure, and with ensuring that inmates are housed either locally or through agreements with other counties. In practical terms, that means Adair County magistrates help determine how taxpayer dollars are spent, what projects move forward, and how county services are delivered. The scope of those responsibilities is broad. Through the fiscal court, magistrates take part in decisions affecting public health services, ambulance service, parks and recreation, libraries, solid waste management, and water and sewage services. They also play a role in road construction and maintenance, zoning and planning, and economic development efforts aimed at attracting new business and supporting tourism. The fiscal court also has significant authority over county finances. Magistrates review and approve the county budget, which is initially prepared by the county judge/executive. They may amend appropriations, authorize the use of unanticipated revenue, and transfer funds between accounts when necessary. The court appoints the county treasurer, who handles receipts, disbursements, and financial records, but that work is carried out under the direction and approval of the fiscal court. Locally, those decisions shape everything from road projects and equipment purchases to support for local agencies and services. Magistrates are also involved in planning and development decisions. Fiscal court approval is required before a county joins or forms a planning unit, and the court may allocate funding to planning commissions. The court may establish departments, set salaries for many county employees, and adopt policies that guide how county government operates. At the same time, magistrates are subject to strict legal requirements and oversight. Fiscal court meetings must be open to the public under Kentucky's Open Meetings Law, with proper notice given and minutes recorded. Most records are also open for public inspection. State law also places clear limits on their conduct. Magistrates are prohibited from having a personal interest in county contracts and from using confidential information for personal gain. They may face fines, jail time, or removal from office for violations of the law, including improper spending of county funds or failure to carry out their duties. Even repeated absences from fiscal court meetings can result in forfeiture of office. While magistrates no longer have the judicial responsibilities once associated with the office, their role in county government remains significant. In Adair County, their work on the fiscal court places them at the center of decisions that affect infrastructure, services, and long-term planning. Individually, their authority is limited. Collectively, however, magistrates help guide the direction of county government -- making their role one of the most important in local public service. This story was posted on 2026-05-27 23:02:17
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Local Government:
Columbia-Adair EDA to meet May 27 Checks for election workers are ready for pickup Agenda for May 26 Fiscal Court meeting City Hall will be closed on Memorial Day Agenda for May 21 School Board meeting County Clerk Memorial Day Schedule Precinct finder for Primary Election day The job of County Judge Executive outlined ACJE announces $1.4M in LARP funding for county roads Agenda for May 14 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting View even more articles in topic Local Government |
 
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