Judge executive proposes leaving 2018 tax rates unchanged from last year
NELSON FISCAL COURT
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018 — Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts is proposing to leave the county’s real estate tax rate unchanged for 2018 at 14.3 cents per $100 value.
Magistrates Sam Hutchins, left, and Keith Metcalfe, review bids for replacement of a failed culvert on Woodlawn Road at Tuesday’s Nelson Fiscal Court meeting.
Watts’ proposed tax rate is slightly higher than the compensating rate of 14.0 cents per $100 value. The compensating rate is the rate that would create approximately the same tax revenue this year as the county received last year.
Since leaving the tax rate the same will create additional revenue — about $80,000 more — Fiscal Court is required to hold a public hearing.
That hearing will precede a special Nelson Fiscal Court meeting set for 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. The hearing is just that — there will be no first reading or a vote that day on the tax rate, Watts explained.
The other optional tax rate the court could chose is one that creates an additional 4 percent revenue. That tax rate — 14.5 cents per $100 in value — was not a serious option the court wanted to consider.
In comments to WBRT, Watts said leaving the tax rate the same would help cover the increased costs the county has incurred in several areas, including employee retirement.
The county’s tax rate when Watts was first elected judge executive was 15.3 cents per $100 value.
AMPHITHEATER UPDATE. Fiscal Court approved the purchase of overhead doors and precast manholes for the work that will begin soon to renovate the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre stage and backstage areas.
The county continues to receive financial pledges to support the amphitheater renovations, with approximately $960,000 pledged so far. Watt said he’s satisfied “there’s enough checks coming and pledges of support to make this project work.”
Magistrates Jeff Lear, left, and Bernard Ice, review documents during Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting.
ROAD PAVING. The court approved a paving list submitted by District 5 Magistrate Jerry Hahn totaling $167,091. The total exceeded the magistrate’s allotment, and will be supplemented by approximately $47,000 from the judge executive’s discretionary road fund.
The paving list includes:
— four parts of Stoner Road totaling 10,000 linear feet;
— 1,425 feet of Grays Run
— 870 feet of Richard Drive;
— all of Mary Jo Boulevard.
In other business, the court:
— was informed that Recreation Director Tyler Wimsett resigned to take a teaching job with the school system. The recreation director’s job will be advertised soon, Watts told the court.
— heard that work on the Old Courthouse bell tower and front chimneys is progressing well. The scaffolding going to the top of the tower was installed last week. Work to replace the roof is expected to begin soon.
— approved the purchase of new dumpster boxes for the commercial garbage customers.
— was told that Magistrate Sam Hutchins was withdrawing approximately $7,000 of funds from his road paving list to assist with the installation of utility poles that will allow Bardstown Cable to extend cable internet to an area in his district that wishes to be served.
— approved a bid of $138,150 from Springfield-based RAME Contracting for the replacement and repair of a large culvert and road surface that is failing on Woodlawn Road. Of the total projected cost, $101,448 is provided by state emergency road funding. The remainder will be funding by the county’s general fund and reserve, Watts explained.
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