"I can't remember a single zone change request that has been turned down by this administration," Madison County Magistrate Billy Ray Hughes (Dist. 3) told The Edge in an interview. Hughes took office in 2022. He recently won re-election in the May primary.

The players vs. naysayers in deal to turn Carr farm into regional business park

Billy Ray Hughes has served as Madison County magistrate for District 3 since taking office in 2022. He recently won reelection in a May primary.

2026 Kentucky General Election

Hughes said even if 1,000 employees earned an average of $75,000 a year with annual payroll taxes at 1%, the County would only take in $750,000 annually, meaning it would take 109 years to pay off the property.

“It seems to me that we’ve got this unreasonable obsession with acquiring this piece of property,” Hughes said. “If I’m wrong, somebody tell me, but I’m looking at a 100-year payback.”

MacMahan asked the Fiscal Court who, if not Madison County taxpayers, would pay for the costs of the business park not covered by public grants.

As Fiscal Court moves to rezone 1,200 farmland acres for development, builders mount united front

Engineers are recommending a full archaeological review of the area, which comes at a large expense according to Magistrate Billy Ray Hughes. Hughes was the only member of the court to vote against the resolution.

The Madison County Fiscal Court approved a resolution supporting a grant for a large industrial site during a Tuesday meeting. The Central Kentucky Business Park Authority is hoping to develop land known as the Carr property, located on Lexington Road, into a regional business park.

Madison County officials face controversy about industrial site

Opposed acquiring the Carr property for a regional business park, citing a projected 100-year payback, and voted against its related grant resolution.

- Opposed acquiring the Carr property for a regional business park, citing a projected 100-year payback, and voted against its related grant resolution.

Economy

While Madison County has not yet been approached about the building of a data center, community members are still concerned.

The county’s Magistrate, Billy Ray Hughes, says he would like a temporary moratorium on data centers until state work is more complete. Judge Executive Reagan Taylor and other magistrates were in agreement.

Madison County Fiscal Court discusses possible data center moratorium

Wants a temporary moratorium on data centers until the state's work is more complete.

- Wants a temporary moratorium on data centers until the state's work is more complete.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of October 6, 2026, Billy Ray Hughes did not have a website or any information online.

Public Safety

"Everything gets approved," Hughes said. "The lawyers do a lot of the legwork because they are working for investors. They know not to bring something that isn't locked down. But when the sign goes up on the property to alert the public of the requested zone change, then the cards are stacked against the grassroots organizers who are just trying to protect their communities."

Said the administration's zone-change process approves all requests and leaves grassroots organizers at a disadvantage.

- Said the administration's zone-change process approves all requests and leaves grassroots organizers at a disadvantage.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Services

Billy Ray Hughes

As of October 6, 2026, Billy Ray HUGHES’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Billy Ray HUGHES

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- Magistrates, sometimes called justices of the peace, sit on the fiscal court, which serves as the county legislature and makes laws for the county. 
- They decide how money is spent and raised by the county, including taxes, bonds, and property transactions.
- They oversee county infrastructure like roads, manage county property, conduct building inspections, issue permits, and operate the county jail.
- Each county features 3 to 8 districts, each electing 1 magistrate.
- Magistrates are elected for 4-year terms in partisan elections. Their salary caps at approximately $93,000 for full-time work, adjusted based on hours worked. The fiscal court determines this salary.