LOUISA, KY. — Lawrence County voters turned down a proposed .05 percent “nickel tax” by an almost 3-1 margin, 3,244 Against and 1,796 For in yesterday’s balloting.
Supt. Rob Fletcher and the BOE put the idea on the ballot in an effort to finance a new Louisa elementary school and other district improvements but those who went to the polls were not sympathetic to the cause.
“I am very thankful for those that send their children to Lawrence County Schools. It is a blessing and an honor to serve our students each and every day,” Fletcher said. “With this defeat of the recallable nickel tax levy, we will have to revisit the nickel tax option or to explore other avenues to ensure that our students have the facilities they need. It is a setback, but one that we will have to overcome.”
In other BOE related news incumbent Garnett Skaggs handily defeated her opponent Rhonda Ramey in yesterday’s election 377 – 201 and Maddlene Roberts had no opposition.
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“…revisit the nickel tax option…” It seems that it was a resounding “NO” by the taxpayers, who pay your salary. Although you have done a great job, you too can be replaced. The voters had a say, now you need to look at other options, which there are many, to upgrade/improve existing facilities. You should not be arrogant and feel you can just push aside the desires of the taxpayers, it can be regrettable for you and the members of the school board (they are elected). Options could include a multi-year plan to upgrade with available funds/grants making energy efficiencies. technology upgrades and structural repairs as needed. Everything doesn’t have to be done at once and school buildings don’t have to be replaced. Renovations don’t have to be in the millions of dollars over a single year or so; but can be much less (based on need (educational, technology, safety and security) as funding permits. As taxpayers we are tired of building new buildings just because you want one, like a library, school or hospital (yes they are using taxpayers dollars) when when what we have is sufficient and upgrade costs would be greatly reduced if actual needs are addressed rather than “wants”.
We do need a new school, Louisa West looks like a old prison building ready to fall in , we don’t need another tax because I can’t afford my taxes now , I don’t think nothing will ever change or get any better in louisa , it’s over populated , no jobs , bad roads , drugs and over priced on the Utilities and gas prices .
Marcella, with all respect, your characterization of the Louisa West Elementary School is far from accurate, it certainly can use some upgrades and updating, but is certainly not “ready to fall in”. I share your concern about the taxes and jobs; and I believe our newly elected officials should be working towards that end, but it seems most of the time, after election they revert to raising taxes and just staying under the radar and drawing a paycheck. I pray that doesn’t happen. I do pray, however, that as a community we can come together with a responsible solution to repair the broken school facilities and develop partnerships rather than tax burdens to ensure our children have a safe, secure, highly capable learning environment to attend their first years of school.
So true…Besides, the roof only leaks when it rains. No need to fix them now. Antiquated electrical systems only cause problems when the building catches fire or someone is electrocuted. Those things can wait. I’ll just hide up here in the holler like everyone else
The problem most people had with the school tax is that everyone is taxed to death. The people need to know how much money the schools take in taxes every year compared to what is spent, and where it’s spent. Another thing, why in the hell did our politicians think we needed a new over $20 million courthouse for a county this small? Could someone please put up how much is taken in and how much has been spent, and on what it’s been spent on. Also people need to quit calling it a nickel tax. Didn’t Johnson County reject the tax?
Call it what one wants, but many surrounding counties already have the tax. Martin county being one of them!!! So yes, he does pay his nickel tax and has been. Anyways, one must expect our school taxes will GREATLY increase next year to do the necessary repairs to the schools. Even though the superintendent and the board can and probably will be replaced, our taxes will skyrocket before they leave. Good luck paying them!!
Scare tactics won’t work…I have yet to see why the nickel tax is so necessary. They will continue to raise taxes, look at your property taxes now at least 40% goes to school taxes?! So why do you think the nickel tax will fix the problem? And don’t give me your best guess, give me a well thought out plan as to where this money will be allocated….and then tell me how the nickel tax actually works will it continue to go up? Will we continue to pay more and more? And using the ploy “our kids deserve better” yes they do, and that includes all the kids in the county not just Louisa…Fallsburg and Blaine as well. There are other options they need to explore them.
One big reason it did not pass was the Fletcher and the school board were not telling the whole story. This Supt. and board are not truthful in ALL dealings.
1. Tax could go up.
2. Matching funds were not guaranteed.
3. It started out to build a new school and ended up to build , renovate and DEBT SERVICE.
4. It would last at least 14 years.
When will you all get it through your thick heads? That courthose is a FEDERAL courthouse. Lawrence County don’t have a dime in it!
it;s not a federal court house no wonder we have Trump as a president
Somebody had to pay for it, I’m guessing it was TAX PAYERS.
BINGO but it’s still not a federal courthouse
Come on people??? The nickel tax was not gonna break the bank!! What’s five cents per 100 dollars??? I guarantee that we waste that much money at gas stations on snacks and McDonald’s. Our county needs a new elementary school. I mean the people had no problem with raising the mayors salary to 50,000 a year??? Guess who pays that salary!!! The TAX PAYER
I would be all for it if you would love to pay my taxes. Will it “break the bank”? actually “yes”. My mortgage rose 180 dollars this year due to school tax increases, that translates to a monthly increase of 15-20 dollars (I don’t have my annual review yet so I won’t know til I get it), I certainly haven’t received an increase in pay to match that amount, and with the rising food and utility prices it is of great concern. The slogan, “oh, it’s just a couple dollars”, or it only amounts to an “annual increase of $20-whatever” isn’t a valid sell anymore to taxpayers. We have to, and can, find other ways to maintain/upgrade facilities, etc. We need to lessen the burden on our taxpayers and the future of our children. Their education isn’t going to pay for their needs if we continually put more and more debt on them. And that’s just what this does. Someone wrote here it could last 14 years, in fact it could last 20 years and go up or down each year. We need responsible decisions, which might mean replacing those we elected who just an approval stamp for anything brought up with no real discussion.
When will you get it through your thick head that people are not just going to roll over and hand more money out without good explanations of how much the boe takes in every year compared to what is spent and where it’s spent. Accounting needs to be done at every level and then made public for the voters to see. The new courthouse is paid for with taxpayer money, is it not. I said our politicians made a dumb decision building a new courthouse we didn’t need, when the other one is still open. I didn’t say local or regional politicians, I’m talking about all of them not using common frigging sense. Until the boe shows what’s taken in and what and where it’s spent, don’t expect people to just hand over more of their hard earned money without explanation. Get real.
Chris, it is a federal courthouse, but my reason for pointing that out is that the decision to build it has nothing whatsoever to do with the school system or the county. Why do you all think the BOE is this money-making machine. But you all are right. Our children aren’t worth spending a few extra dollars on. They need to go to school in old, dilapidated buildings. We don’t need to give good teachers a reason to stay in Lawrence County. These kids can just grow up to be as dumb as their hillbilly parents, coming in behind every other Ky county.
Wrong it is not a federal courthouse it is a state courthouse like I said no wonder why we have Trump as a president
Well that must include yourself,”whatever” you are too scared to even put your real name on here. And then you want others to listen to you?! Really….and then you make comments how are kids need this or that and then call them dumb hillbillies in the next sentence. You make absolutely no sense and that’s why the tax did not pass. We are a republic not a democracy and the republic has spoken, now get back to the drawing board, you want tax payers help then show them you can do your job and cut spending or do better change how and where you spend it. And please don’t use annoying phone calls to make your point.
As dumb as their hillbilly parents? Too bad you’re talking online and not to my face. I never said the boe was a money making machine, I said they’ve mismanaged money over the years. Tell your pals at the boe to show the voters what the boe takes in and what and where that money is spent, kind of simple thing to do, we’re still waiting. Your smart ass comment will get your big rear in trouble…
Btw, the teachers were here before the tax, what makes you think they’re be an exodus of teachers from LC? Our children’s schools should’ve been taken care of better, but the boe couldn’t manage a my kids piggy bank. The majority of the people that voted against it aren’t stupid hillbillies, that’s not the way to get anything done around here at all. What kind of idiots give bids to the highest bidder?
When we have different people on the board and and a supt. that lives in this county maybe just maybe the Tax Payers will give it another chance. There’s no way this would have passed with the way the current board conducts business. The people of Lawrence County are not going to be taken advantage of if they have a voice, plain and simple.