Request By:
Ms. Mary A. Salyer
County Treasurer
Courthouse
Irvine, Kentucky 40336
Opinion
Opinion By: Robert F. Stephens, Attorney General; By: Charles W. Runyan, Assistant Deputy Attorney General
The county attorney's wife is doing his legal secretarial work solely in connection with county business. Her small salary is paid through revenue sharing and general funds of the county.
Someone told you that as treasurer, in writing her checks, you were violating the nepotism law.
Assuming proper budgeting procedure under KRS Chapter 68, we see no reason why her salary cannot be paid from such sources. See 31 U.S.C.A. § 1241. Further, we are aware of no statute which would prohibit the county attorney from employing his wife. Kentucky has no "nepotism" statute, as such, relating to county officials. Cf. KRS 61.220, which prohibits any member of fiscal court from becoming interested, directly or indirectly, in any claim against the county.