City school board votes 3-2 on proposed 4 percent tax revenue increase

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Wednesday. Aug. 3, 2016, 9 a.m. — At a special-called meeting Tuesday evening, the Bardstown Board of Education voted to set the preliminary 2016 tax rates to create an overall 4 percent tax revenue increase for the school district.

SUPERINTENDENT BRENT HOLSCLAW

While introducing his recommendation to the board in favor of the 4 percent revenue increase, Superintendent Brent Holsclaw said he realized setting the tax rate was a difficult task for the board.

“It’s also a difficult task for the superintendent,” he said.

The 4 percent revenue increase over last year’s tax rate will mean an additional $17 in tax on property valued at $100,000, Holsclaw told the board. Overall, the 4 percent increase is expected to bring in revenues totalling $8,816,920.

The new rate for real estate and personal property is 80.4 cents per $100 in value. The motor vehicle tax remains the same at 53.1 cents per $100 value.

“This rate is not a luxury,” he told the board. “It’s a necessary thing to do to adequately provide for our children’s education and keep up with expenses.”

Board chairman Andy Stone proposed a slightly lower 3 percent tax revenue increase. The board has taken the allowed 4 percent revenue increase every year but one for the past 22 years, he said. Stone voted against taking the 4 percent revenue increase last year.

The 3 percent revenue increase would continue to support the district’s growth and also take into consideration the overall tax burden on the district’s residents.

But Stone’s motion for the lower rate failed in a 3-2 vote, with Jim Roby, Franklin Hibbs and Kathy Reed voting against it and Stone and board member Jennifer Shrewsbury voting in favor of the rate.

Hibbs then made a motion to set the preliminary rate to create a 4 percent revenue increase. The motion for the 4 percent tax revenue increase was approved in a 3-2 vote.

NEXT UP. The board will hold a hearing to allow public comment on the tax rate proposal at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 15 at the board meeting room at the district’s central office. The board is set to approve the tax rate at its meeting noon Tuesday, Aug. 16. The hearing and the meeting are open to the public.

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