LOUISA, Ky. — Lawrence County property owners will feel the pinch of inflation and long ignored facilities when a new nickel/dime tax takes effect January 1, according to public release from the Lawrence County Board of Education.
Supt. Dr. Rob Fletcher announced a public forum as a legal ad, a forum which was attended by not a soul outside school personnel. The next meeting of the committee resulted in a plan for school construction and renovation which, Fletcher and the board says is necessary to move the system ahead at a cost of more than $27 million.
The cost would be absorbed by raising the property taxes of all Lawrence County residents and businesses.
Voters in Lawrence County soundly rejected a similar but much smaller proposal by a more than 2-1 vote four years ago but Fletcher said then that it would be back on the ballot “as soon as possible”.
Fletcher says the funding is critical to the school system’s competitiveness in today’s environment where students frequently move or attend private schools.
There can be no tax raise above 4% without allowing the community the opportunity to recall. Any additional nickel is subject to recall if the there is a petition with enough signatures. If they have enough signatures, then it would go to a vote. If they do not have enough signatures, then the additional amount would go on the next tax bill. Currently, we have the lowest tax rate in the 15th region and one of the lower tax rates in the state. In short, there would have to be a petition before it could go to the community for a vote.
100th District State Representative Scott Sharp, who was unopposed on the Nov. ballot representing all of Lawrence County and Catlettsburg and part of Ashland, said in a recent interview with the Lazer that he is working hard to get the wheels rolling on the new school.
“I am hoping that there is no petition this time, but we will cross that bridge when we get there,” Fletcher told TheLevisaLazer.com.
The Lazer has discovered the number of signatures necessary to demand a county-wide vote on the issue which is 705, probably 750 to be safe. The number comes from the state law which requires 10% of the total vote in the last Presidential race. County Clerk Chris Jobe’s office confirmed stats on the state Board of Elections’ website which said the total vote in the Biden-Trump election was 7,050.
TEACHERS RELUCTANTLY FAVOR NEW NICKEL/DIME TAX
LCHS TEACHER ORGANIZATION PRESIDENT SCOTT OSBORN issued a statement for the thelevisalazer.com concerning how local teachers feel about a tax raise, since many of them will pay the extra tax themselves.
“…As for the property tax increase, I personally oppose it; however, with Louisa West in a near-condemned state and most school facilities in desperate need of at least renovation (Blaine and Fallsburg, especially), we need revenue to support building and renovation efforts. The state of Kentucky will only match the funds we raise with a nickel (or higher) tax increase. Without a nickel tax, the state refuses to give us the necessary funds.
I have confronted lawmakers in both parties about this. The answer is either blaming the other party’s fiscal policies (Democrats), or, “you folks keep asking for handouts, but you need to do your fair share to pay for your own facilities” (GOP). The latter argument is hard to beat.
Martin County funded a shiny new high school in part by raising the school property taxes over there. We are in much the same boat.
Either the majority of citizens in Lawrence County need to contact our legislators and try to convince them to assist us without increasing the local tax burden, or we need to increase local tax revenue.
Representative Sharp is the only legislator I have spoken to who voiced support for state funding of our building projects without increasing local taxes; unfortunately, I believe that support has fallen on deaf ears. He is simply outnumbered by naysayers.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinions on this. Most of the teachers I have discussed this with feel similarly. They are opposed to local tax increases, but they don’t see any other way for us to address our aging and ailing school facilities.”
******
There has been murmurs about forming a petition, which can be done by any registered voter or any organization formed for the purpose and registered at Clerk Chris Jobe’s office.
The state paid for most of Martin County’s school because it was damaged by blasting for a new road . Tell the truth. This bunch is shady as hell.
No tax hikes on the people of Lawrence County!!! We can’t afford to buy food to eat and all the board of education can think of is to raise taxes…GEEZ!!! Lawrence County High School is getting a ridiculous complex and the board of education can’t ask for the money to be spent where it’s needed the worst. Pathetic wasteful bunch wants to nickel and dime tax payers to death!!! I’ll personally be taking petitions around informing tax payers of the waste that’s going on.
Run for school board.
I will gladly sign your petition. We can afford ball fields but can’t do proper maintenance on the schools we have? Let him donate half his paycheck each month toward it. He can afford it better than most people in this county.
The people of Lawrence County already pay out the rear end in taxes. They can’t afford to pay any more. Everything is raising except our pay checks. The school already gets more money than the county, the sheriffs office, and even the library, which is another total different issue. Every time you turn around, the schools are raising money for something. School starts you have a list of items to buy for the classrooms. It’s a thousand wonders we don’t have to buy toilet paper and send with our kids to school. With the money the school gets from taxes, there’s no reason that Louisa West should be in the shape it’s in. Frankly I’m sick of it. Even your fast food has school tax added on. The nickel tax would have ruined our county imagine what a dime tax will do. BRING ON THE PETITION!
Did Scott Osborn write that last line, “There has been rumors…”? I think not.
No, I wrote it and it is clearly separated from Mr. Osborn’s answer. And it doesn’t say rumors its says murmurs which means there have been people publicly say it to me.
I am a teacher and I will sign the petition because I can’t afford one more tax increase. I don’t make $130,000. At the worst possible time this economy has seen in 40 years, they want to hurt us even more by raising taxes. I know that school is needed but we have to live also. I’m definitely opposed to raising our taxes when this board won’t even find a way to give us a raise that matches inflation rate. The school district is the only entity that takes their allotted increase EVERY SINGLE YEAR! Just look at your property tax statement. They get 4 times the amount the others get.
Screw taxes. . Get the damn petition started !
I am offended. Just nickel and dime? What we need is a nickels and two dimes tax. I am offended.
This what you get when a county is runed by Republicans there’s no competition they think they can get by with anything
I think the problem is more of a control issue than political party. When the same people stay in power too long they think they can rule everyone. Robbie has done a fair job. Not $130,000 worth. Our kids are still not getting the education they need. The school buildings we have are neglected but not the ballfields. How long have we had the same board members? Judge? Magistrates? I think they need time limits. We need some big changes in Lawrence county.
Reading everyone’s comments here, I worry about the welfare of your children when they get home.
The children are fine at home. If people have to pay more taxes on top of everything else that has/is going up, they may be homeless. There are very few good paying jobs in this county. No industry, no future. No farmland now even to farm. State took care of that years ago when they forced people out of their homes to put a lake in. Where’s all the money it was supposed to raise? All the tourists? The forgotten part of Kentucky. Yes, we need decent, safe schools for our children. I said schools, not school. This is a very large county. Schools are needed in several areas not just in Louisa. In this new expensive school did they include safety features to protect our children? Metal detectors? Bullet proof glass? Limited entry/exit doors?
Of course everyone would love new schools but a tax hike was on the ballot and Lawrence county voted it Down with a resounding NO.
If the board raises our property taxes, it’s no longer a democracy!
Dr. Fletcher has done a tremendous job for our school system but he is WRONG on this.
You do realize you don’t live in a democracy, right?
Joey please explain why we don’t live in a democracy?
The United States is more accurately defined as a constitutional federal republic. “Constitutional” refers to the fact that government in the United States is based on a Constitution which is the supreme law of the United States, even though no one wants to honor it anymore. The Constitution not only provides the framework for how the federal and state governments are structured, but also places limits on their powers. “Federal” means that there is both a national government and governments of the 50 states. A “republic” is a form of government in which the people hold power, but elect representatives to exercise that power. I hope that’s not too much for you Katy.
Joey we do have elections don’t we?
de·moc·ra·cy
“a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.”
Joey I believe we still have this you might NOT LIKE the results but that’s how it works
Joey Again we have the least uneducated voters in the state
Joe C is spot on correct about the American Republic, perhaps others watch too much CNN and BSNBC.
If Jo-Bi-Dung weren’t in office, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about money.
https://www.thelevisalazer.com/2021/11/04/governor-will-deliver-check-for-new-9-2-million-vocational-facility-at-lchs-friday/
This came from Our Great President Biden
We have to have the most Uneducated voters in the state
He could careless. He a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE superintendent. Why they pay him like they do I’ll never know. He smug. He thinks he better than everyone. I’ve seen him ignore issues w students that sickens me. Scott Sharp should talk to us parents. Talk to me. I have zero issue speaking Abt it. God knows any concerns just get silenced.
I nominate Kag as petition president,to stop this right wing steamroller….
No one but you and KAG cares!
Mr. Fletcher, you’re a piece of crap trying to slip this in after the people of Lawrence County have spoken once with their vote.
I’ll gladly pay a dime tax,if Fletcher will give back 10% of his pay to the schools…
We are working a petition in Trigg County to oppose the “Nickel Tax.” It has been a learning process. The community members here are as yours, they are fed up with more taxes, increased costs, etc.
Good luck in opposing the additional tax in your community. Would be glad to help you with advice if needed.