LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18)– The Fayette County School Board will likely hear from many people against a proposed property tax increase to fund a safety plan for public schools before they pass a separate annual tax increase.
The board is not meeting about the proposed safety plan tonight, but members will likely hear about it. The public comment session is meant for a different property tax increase being voted on.
The annual increase was included in the May budget and amounts to one cent more per $100 of property value, but that is not what some speakers will focus on.
There will likely be a number of people opposed to the proposed five cent increase passed last month. That increase is estimated to bring in $13.5 million for numerous safety improvements in the district. It will cost the average homeowner about $88 a year.
Fayette Co School Board holding public comment session on annual tax levy tonight. This is not related to the other proposed increase for school safety, but members will likely still hear about those concerns too @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/jSvtj2amou
— Conor McCue (@Conor_WLEX) August 27, 2018
Opponents have until Friday to get 14,000 signatures to get the issue on the ballot in November, if not, the increases are final.
This 4% rate increase, the equivalent of 1-cent per $100 property value, would pay for things like school construction, employee benefits, transportation costs, etc. Again, this is separate from the safety proposal passed last month @LEX18News
— Conor McCue (@Conor_WLEX) August 27, 2018