(1) Any county of the Commonwealth of Kentucky may, by order of its fiscal court, duly made and entered of record, create a county police force merit system, and for that purpose, establish a county police force merit board, whose duties it shall be to classify and examine applicants seeking employment as officers or employees of the police force of the said county, and in addition thereto to promulgate rules and regulations not inconsistent with KRS 78.400 to 78.480 and 78.990 governing the classification, qualification, examination, appointment, probation, promotion, demotion, fine, suspension and other disciplinary action within the said county police force of all personnel of the county police force or forces affected and covered by KRS 78.400 to 78.460 and 78.990, and in addition thereto, to hold such hearings, public and executive, and impose such penalties upon the personnel affected by KRS 78.400 to 78.460 and 78.990.
(2) Fiscal courts affected hereby shall make appropriations of money for the reasonable and necessary expenses of the said board.