LAST NIGHT’S COMMENTS…Updated today!
THE BOE HAD SEVERAL COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS about the proposed $40 new construction plan at the public session last night as can be seen on the video HERE.
Supt. Dr. Rob Fletcher fielded most of the comments and returned fire a few times with a gentleman in the front row whose name we did not get…Many other reasonable questions about the new tax and school construction, most mentioning current school projects like the new softball complex and the astroturf for the Luke Varney Stadium, were asked during the hour and twenty minute session.
In all the noise about the new tax comes the question I can’t figure: Is the new school going to be K-3 or K-5? $27 million for a K-3 school would seem to be huge in anybody’s billfold. We asked both Fletcher and Mr. Jim See, BOE chairman, the same question this morning and See could not answer it. “All of the information is in Dr. Fletcher’s 4 memos that were published,” See said.
Fletcher issued this statement this morning (3/17/23:
Tonight the board will convene again to make it official and the public is cordially invited to attend to see how their board member votes on the issue. The only thing left if the deal passes is having it posted in the local ‘legal’ weekly paper newspaper as a notice that their tax bills just raised.
Then come the petitions which were promised at last night’s meeting. Combined the petitions must have at least 750 signatures, County Clerk Chris Jobe has said. That represents 10% of the voters in the November election as called for by the statute.
If the petitions are successful, the matter will be placed on the November ballot or, at a cost of over $32,000, a special election could be held. If no petitions are started and there is no vote, Fletcher and the board’s decisions will stand.
–M. Grayson
LAWRENCE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Double Nickel Equivalent Tax Levy
PUBLIC HEARING
IN PERSON & VIDEO TELECONFERENCE
March 15, 2023; 6:00 p.m.
Primary Location: Lawrence County High School Library Louisa, Kentucky
For public viewing of the meeting via the Internet, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeObmWjYrXWRbaqkBEyznxg
AGENDA 2. OPEN DOUBLE NICKEL EQUIVALENT TAX LEVY HEARING
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Lawrence County Board of Education intends to adopt an additional double nickel equivalent tax rate on real and personal property, which will produce revenue of twelve and four tenths cents ($.124) per one hundred dollars ($100) of property assessed. For the 2022-23 fiscal year, the District’s nickel equivalent rate is 6.2 cents, which when applied to the current rate brings the total real property rate to 69.6 cents and to 71.1 cents on personal property. The District’s nickel equivalent rate changes each fiscal year and may be higher or lower when applied to future tax bills. The District will not begin collecting the additional revenue from this levy until the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The revenue produced by this increase will be dedicated to major renovation of existing school facilities, new construction, and debt service.
The general areas to which revenue of $1,162,373.32 above 2022 revenue is to be allocated are as follows: Cost of collections, $34,871.20; building fund, $906,856; instruction, $0; transportation, $110,323.06; and maintenance of plant, $110,323.06.
3. CLOSE DOUBLE NICKEL EQUIVALENT TAX LEVY HEARING
4. ADJOURN
******************************
LAWRENCE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL MEETING
(following Tax Levy Hearing at 6 p.m.)
IN PERSON & VIDEO TELECONFERENCE
March 15, 2023; 6:30 p.m.
Primary Location: Lawrence County High School Library Louisa, Kentucky
For public viewing of the meeting via the Internet, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeObmWjYrXWRbaqkBEyznxg
AGENDA
PRIMARY PURPOSE: Student Discipline/Expulsion Hearings
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mission and Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag
2. COMMUNICATION: Special Meeting to Levy Double-Nickel Tax: March 16, 6:00 p.m., LCHS Library 3. STUDENT LEARNING AND SUPPORT SERVICES
3.A. EXECUTIVE SESSION
3.A.1. Approve to enter Executive Session for the purpose of Student Discipline/Expulsion Hearings pursuant to KRS 61.810(1)(f)
3.A.2. Approve return to Open Session
3.B. Approve Consent Agenda Items:
3.B.1. Approve per diem and expenses for members in attendance for hearing/special meeting and per diem for members in attendance for special meeting on March 16, 2023 3.B.2. Approve Claims and Orders of the Treasurer
3.C. Approve 2023 Summer School Proposal, including pay rates and schedule (pending no changes to current school calendar)
4. PERSONNEL
4.A. Approve to acknowledge receipt of Superintendent’s Personnel Action/Update
5. ADJOURNMENT
LAWRENCE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL MEETING:
Double Nickel Equivalent Tax Levy
IN PERSON & VIDEO TELECONFERENCE
March 16, 2023; 6:00 p.m. Primary Location: Lawrence County High School Library Louisa, Kentucky
For public viewing of the meeting via the Internet, use this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeObmWjYrXWRbaqkBEyznxg
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mission and Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag
2. STUDENT LEARNING AND SUPPORT SERVICES
2.A. Consider/Approve Double Nickel Equivalent Tax Levy:
The Lawrence County Board of Education considers/adopts an additional double nickel equivalent tax rate on real and personal property, which will produce revenue of twelve and four tenths cents ($.124) per one hundred dollars ($100) of property assessed. For the 2022-23 fiscal year, the District’s nickel equivalent rate is 6.2 cents, which when applied to the current rate brings the total real property rate to 69.6 cents and to 71.1 cents on personal property. The District’s nickel equivalent rate changes each fiscal year and may be higher or lower when applied to future tax bills. The District will not begin collecting the additional revenue from this levy until the 2023-2024 fiscal year. The revenue produced by this increase will be dedicated to major renovation of existing school facilities, new construction, and debt service.
2.B. Review of the Recallable Double-Nickel Tax Levy timeline/process (no action) 4. ADJOURNMENT
The people of Lawrence county are taxed to death now! It’s getting so that no one will be able to afford to live in Lawrence county!
Hey if you don’t like higher taxes. Everyone needs to show up.
Show up tomorrow night if you don’t want your taxes raised. Let your school board member know you are unhappy with them over this. Vote wisely next time. These people are voted in with one exception and you can see why. Tonight they were told without a doubt that the voters were not happy with this. Tomorrow night they will vote. Be there to remind them that you, not Fletcher, put them in as board members. Remember they are politicians now. Need changed often just like diapers.
They are also paid board members. Vote wisely. Remember one thing, if the board members vote for this it is taxation without representation. The vast majority of Lawrence County voters are against this. They know that.
What I watched on you tube Fletcher is on a mission to raise property taxes
He knows more than the voters
He controls this county.
If they get enough signatures and put it on the ballot this fall and the voters reject Fletcher’s dime tax.
Then Fletcher and the Board Members who voted for Fletcher’s dime tax should have to pay the $32,000 bill that way next time they want to go against the voters will maybe they will think harder about it.
Where do you sign.
Cheryl Gowen, Daniel Ward, Sherry Cavins Burchett (Quilter’s Playhouse at Lowmansville), JJ’s Liquidation, Michelle Lyons Dillon and myself, Kay Swafford, have copies of the petition along with a few others. We will be out and about getting signatures and sitting up around town. Just message either of us.
Where can someone go to get their name on that petition if you live in town???
I attended the meeting simply because I feel this is a taxpayer issue. Since we will be the ones who pay this additional tax. No offense to the school board but something this monumental should NOT be the decision of 5 people. Our population is well over 16,000, the majority of these folks should have input into this decision.
So many people have struggled with inflated grocery costs, unbelievable utility costs and high gas prices. This is just insult to injury. It seems like a bad time to expect more from our community.
Cheryl, I agree but these 5 people were elected by the voters in their districts. Seems to me what you’re saying in a way is voting is important. BTW, three of these BOE members had no opponents and one was appointed by the other four.
The reason she was appointed by the other 4 because she is just a rubber stamp for the Fletcher Dime Tax
Susie Rice was not elected. She was appointed. Go figure.
Voting is very important. So is communication. Once voted into office people tend to forget who put them there. The blame goes two ways, the people for assuming that they will represent them and not attending board meetings and the board member for losing touch with the voters. Shouldn’t there at least be a monthly newsletter?
The lady at the board meeting who was for the taxes is Susie Rice’s daughter, the newly appointed board member.
What’s that have to do with anything?
It was planned. Anyone can figure that out. I would say Susie’s daughter doesn’t own a home and pay taxes on any property either.
I attended this meeting simply because I feel that the taxpayers should have a say in this decision because ultimately we will be the ones paying the additional tax. No offense to any of the school board members but with a population of over 16,000, these are the folks who should decide on a tax increase. Not 5-6 people!!
Inflation is taking a toll in our area. Grocery costs are outrageous, utilities costs unreal and gas prices way too high. Now isn’t the time to burden folks with anything else. Just my opinion, but one I’m entitled too as a taxpayer and US citizen 🇺🇸
Admin, why don’t you ask our county leaders if they are for or against the tax? We need to know! Is the county judge for or against the kids or the voters? How about the magistrates? Will Rick be against his employer or the taxpayers? Clerk? PVA? Demand answers, we want to know. As leaders of our county they should stand up and voice their opinions. Don’t let them sit on the fence. Some of them enjoy it too much.
We have had the question on our Lazer poll for two weeks. I will ask the officials but getting an answer is going to be a pickle, I figure.
Judge and clerk are for it, PVA is against it. The rate sheet they have is misleading. This would be like a variable interest rate. Imagine your property, car or credit card for example. The board members had no intentions of considering anything said. They said they were there representing the children. Children can’t vote and most will leave this county for employment and better living conditions, when they are old enough. When asked to do their job and represent the voters, the board member who was appointed stated that she was appointed and not voted in and she would vote how she wanted. She doesn’t seem to realize that she stepped in for an elected member and therefore is to represent his area. One big question is: Did any of the board members reach out to any of the people they represent to ask how they feel about this tax? I have yet to hear of any. 27 million for kindergarten thru 2nd grade is a lot of money.
My board member has not asked anyone for their opinion on this.
Is there a sunset in this tax or is it forever? If there is no sunset I would oppose it. You can make a lot of improvements with a lot less money at Louisa West. It is in bad shape but weighing the cost, benefits, impacts on taxpayers, etc. I do not see the purpose. Additionally paying more taxes to build new lunch rooms and gyms is ridiculous. This tax would drastically increase mortgages and cause hardships on hard working people. Banks increase mortgage escrow accounts so the average mortgage of a home may go up 40-50 dollars a month. That’s real money out of the pockets of people during the highest inflation in 40 years and the worst economy ever. Don’t hold our kids over our heads. The school should have never been allowed to get in such a deteriorated condition. The school had plenty of money sitting in the bank in years past but never addressed the issue. Now you just want the taxpayer to fork over the money because you didn’t maintain buildings and prioritize repairs as you should.
They are saying 20 years but once it is in, it’s a done deal. Can this county stand the burden of a variable rate tax? They are allowing the building to deteriorate so they can get a new one. 27 million for a K-2nd.
Exactly
It is disgusting how much the majority of Lawrence countians love their money and how little they care for the children. I would give my last cent to help the kids, but you’ve got to hold on to that $100 a year. Heartbreaking.
Joey you sure must be desperate for the new school money
Nice buildings do not teach kids.
Go back to online/virtual. China does it!!
Let that old building fall in around some kids and then we’ll have some folks realize the truth. Having such a school in our system is a disgrace (the building, not the teachers). Our state has tied the hands of our board and no one will be coming to the rescue. Pass the tax and help our kids!
The structure on that OLD BUILDING is good. Why not renovate it? They renovated Louisa East without raising anyone’s taxes. If they build a new school the old one will be sold to ARC and they will renovate it.