Fiscal Court expected to set tax rates
Taxes will be a major topic of discussion during tonight’s regular session of the McCreary County Fiscal Court, but it should be good news for McCreary County residents as no tax increases are expected, with one exception.
The McCreary County Board of Education, who voted last month to adopt a four-percent increase in property taxes, may be the only tax increase put before the court as they set tax rates for the October tax bills.
A public hearing on that tax rate has been scheduled for Monday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Office, but the tax is not subject to a recall vote.
McCreary County Judge Executive Doug Stephens said neither the County nor any other special taxing districts are expected to raise their tax rate for the coming year.
Representatives of the tax districts are expected to be on hand for the meeting as state law requires a formal presentation to the Fiscal Court every year.
Tax rates for the Library (7.7), all five fire districts (10.0) and Health Department (4.0) should remain unchanged, as well as the rate for the Soil Conservation District, who raised their rate to 1.7 cents per $100 of assessed value of real estate last year.
The County tax rates should also remain unchanged with Real set at 9.50 and Motor Vehicle and Watercraft set at 20.40.
With an overall decrease in property assessment over last year, the possibility for at least a small tax increase is possible to ensure tax revenues remain at the same level as the previous year, but Judge Stephens said Wednesday that both he and the members of the Fiscal Court have been opposed to raising taxes.
“It is a fact that expenses continue to rise, and revenues continue to decrease,” he said. “But I believe it is up to us, as stewards of the public’s taxes, to do everything in our means to carry on without raising taxes. We are continuously working to cut costs where we can to avoid having to raise taxes.”
The McCreary County Fiscal Court will meet tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the Fiscal Court Room at the Courthouse.
