City school board majority opts for 4 percent tax revenue increase
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018 — The Bardstown Board of Education voted 4-1 to set the 2018 property tax rate at 83.7 cents per $100 of value in order to create 4 percent of additional tax revenue.
BOARD MEMBER ANDY STONE
Board member Andy Stone cast the sole “no” vote against taking the 4 percent tax revenue increase.
The 4 percent revenue increase means an additional $688,188 in tax revenue for the school district.
Before the board’s vote, Stone said in a statement that his first choice was to support a lower tax rate which would create 2 percent additional tax revenue. But realizing the board was unlikely to support that rate, he offered a compromise motion to set the tax rate for a 3 percent revenue increase.
Board member Jim Roby seconded Stone’s motion, but the balance of the board made it clear the 3 percent rate lacked enough support to pass.
Board members Kathy Reed, Franklin Hibbs and board chair Jennifer Shrewsbury said they would support taking the 4 percent revenue increase to make sure the board continues its mission of providing the best quality education it can for the district’s students.
Roby withdrew his second to Stone’s motion for a 3 percent revenue increase, which led Stone to withdraw his original motion. Hibbs then made the motion to set the 2018 tax rate at 83.7 cents per $100 value to create a 4 percent revenue increase, which was subsequently approved by the board.
HEALTH CLINIC PROVIDER. The board approved entering into a contract with Cumberland Family Medical Center (CFMC) to operate the district’s in-school health clinic.
Paul Bowling, the district’s director of human resources and technology, speaks with Superintendent Ryan Clark prior to the start of Tuesday’s board meeting.
The health clinic was launched in October 2016, and or 2016 and 2017, the clinic was managed by Physicians to Children and Adolescents. The group apparently chose not to offer a proposal for 2018, as Cumberland was the only provider who expressed an interest in providing health services.
DISTRICTS JOIN FORCES FOR JROTC. The board approved an agreement that will allow Bardstown High School students to participate in the Nelson County High School JROTC program beginning this school year.
Bardstown High School principal Chris Pickett said the school invited the county JROTC program to set up a table at an event aimed at eighth-grade students. Twenty-five students expressed an interest in participating in JROTC in high school. Currently, 10 of those students are now taking classes in the NCHS JROTC program.
Students are transported on buses that take students to and from the Area Technical Center.
In other business, the board of education:
— approved the 2018-19 agreement to provide support services to Central Kentucky Head Start.
— agreed to transfer the balance of the dormant adult education fund to help support the Backpack Program. The account was no longer used after the district dropped adult education programs. The balance in the account was $68,213.
— selected KORT as its athletic trainer provider. Two companies has presented their services seeking the contract, and the board voted to continue its athletic trainer relationship with KORT.
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