Taxpayers Fund It, Troopers Wait: Kentucky’s SERvS Project Faces Scrutiny

Millions Spent, but Troopers Still Struggle to Communicate
When a Kentucky state trooper calls for help, the ability to communicate can mean the difference between life and death. Yet after seven years and more than $110 million spent on the Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System (SERvS), many first responders still find themselves in radio “dead zones.” The system was intended to modernize Kentucky’s aging police radio network, replacing outdated technology and closing dangerous coverage gaps.

Since 2018, lawmakers have approved about $216 million for the project across five separate budget bills. The state’s capital plan projects another $107 million will be needed in the next budget to complete the final phase, which includes about 25 additional towers in eastern Kentucky’s mountainous terrain. But progress has slowed, and more than 80 “greenfield” sites — new towers built from the ground up — remain unfinished.

Despite consistent funding from the legislature, the project continues to lag years behind schedule, frustrating both taxpayers and the law enforcement officers who depend on it. “The problem is not money,” said Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Georgetown. “The problem is management.”

A Breakdown in Leadership, Not Effort
Nunn emphasized that Kentucky’s first responders are not to blame for the delays. “Frontline workers are not the issue,” he said. “They’re doing their jobs under difficult circumstances. The failure is at the leadership level, where the project has not been managed with the urgency public safety requires.”

He compared the situation to KentuckyWired, a broadband initiative launched with a promising vision that ultimately became a symbol of bureaucratic inefficiency, cost overruns, and unfulfilled promises. “We’ve seen this pattern before,” Nunn said. “Projects that begin with great intentions too often get mired in red tape and poor oversight.”

The senator also drew attention to recent missteps within the executive branch, including an overlooked funding gap in the senior meals program. “Thousands of elderly Kentuckians are at risk of going back on waiting lists because of government incompetence and poor communication,” Nunn said. “SERvS is suffering from similar challenges — and it boils down to a lack of leadership.”

Legislators Demand Faster Progress
Members of the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee, where Nunn serves, are pushing for immediate improvements. Sen. Phillip Wheeler of Pikeville raised concerns about eastern Kentucky’s communication gaps and proposed exploring satellite technology to help close them. Sen. Danny Carroll of Paducah, a former law enforcement officer, urged closer coordination between state and local governments to speed up tower construction and approvals.

“These are reasonable steps that deserve consideration,” Nunn said. “Our troopers shouldn’t have to wait until 2030 for a system that could save their lives today.”

Without a disciplined management strategy, Nunn warned, the project could easily slip past its current completion target, driving costs higher and leaving local agencies with incompatible equipment. “If the backbone of this network continues to lag, communities may be forced to buy radios that won’t even connect,” he said.

Taxpayers and Troopers Deserve Results
According to Nunn, Kentucky’s legislature has done its part by funding every request tied to the project. What’s missing, he said, is a sense of urgency within the administration. “Taxpayers demand more than a slow-motion infrastructure saga,” Nunn said. “Troopers deserve a system that works when their lives depend on it.”

He pledged to continue pressing for accountability, transparency, and forward movement until the state delivers a communications system that meets public safety needs. “This isn’t about politics — it’s about doing right by the men and women who protect our communities,” he said. “We must treat this project with the seriousness it deserves.”

For now, SERvS stands as a cautionary tale — a multimillion-dollar reminder that funding alone cannot solve a management problem. Nunn’s message to Kentucky’s leaders is clear: “The safety of our families and first responders is on the line. No more excuses. It’s time to get the job done.”