About Our County
A growing community situated in the heart of Kentucky, Hardin County is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. We are proud to say Hardin County is home to Fort Knox, thriving advanced manufacturing and agricultural sectors, a regional healthcare system, and much more.
Young families, established professionals, entrepreneurs, military veterans and everyone in between find Hardin County offers a strong economy, quality educational opportunities and a growing list of amenities. All this, in addition to the area’s variety of affordable housing and our caring communities, make it clear Hardin County offers an unmatched quality of life.
Service to citizens drives all activity of Hardin County Government. In all our work, we strive for efficiency, effectiveness, and trustworthiness. For more information on our services, view our office and department pages or contact us.
Our Mission
To maximize all available resources to provide well-planned, adequately resourced and professionally executed public programs, infrastructure and services to the citizens of Hardin County.
Our Vision
To become the Commonwealth’s premier county in which to live, work and raise our families.
What is County Government?
Ordinances and Resolutions for Hardin County government are adopted by nine elected members of the county’s ‘Fiscal Court.’ The Fiscal Court, under the Kentucky Constitution of 1891, is the name given to the county legislature and governing body of each of the counties in Kentucky. Despite the name, it no longer has any responsibility for judicial proceedings.
The Fiscal Court is made up of 8 Magistrates, the County Judge/Executive, and 2 non-voting members. In Hardin County, the County Attorney and the County Clerk serve as the two non-voting members.
The title “County Judge/Executive” is a blending of the past and the present, going back to a time when a person elected to this position also presided over judicial proceedings. Now, the Judge/Executive is responsible for the day-to-day operation of county government and does not oversee any legal proceedings. In essence, the Judge/Executive serves as the chief executive officer of the county and is responsible for the organization and management of the administrative functions of county government. The Fiscal Court sets the county’s policies and priorities. The Judge/Executive must execute these policies and priorities. The statute provides only general guidance as to the form and substance of a county’s internal administrative organization.
Magistrates, (also known as justices of the peace, or in a county that has adopted a commission form of government, county commissioners) serve as members of the fiscal court and conduct the business of the county on behalf of their district’s citizens. Magistrates are elected from eight different districts in Hardin County for four-year terms of office.
Hardin County Fiscal Court meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 3:30pm and the fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 5:30pm. Both meetings are held in the Fiscal Court room on the 3rd floor of the Hardin County Government Center. Live streaming, and previously recorded meetings, can be viewed on our YouTube channel Hardin County Government (HCGO).
