INEZ, Ky. — Tax collections have come to a halt in Martin County, after the county’s tax software provider cut off service due to unpaid bills.

Sheriff John Kirk says this is just the latest problem to arise from bills not being paid by the fiscal court. He says his office receives daily calls from vendors wondering when they can expect to be paid for services, and he has been using his own money to pay for some essential services.

But being cut off by the software vendor poses a more serious problem for the county. Without the tax software, Sheriff Kirk says his office is unable to collect taxes.

And that means his office is also unable to distribute tax receipts on the 10th of next month. That could mean cash flow problems not only for his office, but also for county and city governments, the school board, the health department and other taxing districts in the county.

We reached out to Martin County Fiscal Court to ask for their side of the story. We were told by someone who answered the office phone that no one was available to speak with us today.