KRS 98.180

The fiscal court of any county containing a city of the first class and the legislative body of any city of the first class in the county may, upon their joint action, combine, consolidate and jointly control, the departments, boards and other organizations created for the purpose of serving either the county or the city, or both, in the administration and supervision of: All forms of public assistance, general relief, and social services to adults and children in homes or eleemosynary and correctional institutions; city and county eleemosynary institutions; city and county penal institutions including the establishment of rules and regulations for the custody, government, and parole of inmates; other public welfare activities or services which are placed within the control of the city or fiscal court.