PART 4
Building a Better Future for the Students of Lawrence County:
Investments by the Taxpayer and Comparisons with Neighboring Districts
(This article is the fourth of a series that will cover topics pertaining to planning, remodeling, building, and financing school facilities in Lawrence County.) See all parts of the series on Lazer news
If you had the opportunity to read the previous articles, you know a lot of details on the district facilities plan, the local planning committee, and the bonding process for financing schools. To review, our top facility priorities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Constructing a new Louisa West Elementary with preschool through 2nd grade classes
- Repairing the roof of Louisa Middle
- Consolidating our 7th and 8th grades at Lawrence County Middle School (renaming Louisa Middle)
- Keeping 6th grade classes at Blaine and Fallsburg while moving 6th grade from Louisa Middle to the elementary setting at Louisa East.
- Securing all schools with safety vestibule areas (similar to Lawrence County High School)
- Adding new cafeterias that are separate from the gyms at Blaine and Fallsburg.
- Upgrading sports facilities
Also, from the previous article, it is important to remember that the double-nickel tax would generate $11.5 million over the next 20 years from local taxpayers, and the state legislature would GIVE the school system $13.5 million, IF we pass the double-nickel tax. As promised, this article will focus on two main questions. First, how much will the double nickel cost the property owner? Second, how do our tax rates compare with surrounding districts?
Question 1: How much additional money will the double nickel tax cost the property owner?
During this process, we have been working closely with the Kentucky Department of Education to get the exact numbers for the double-nickel tax. As stated in Article #3, “One nickel tax would add approximately 5 cents to every $100 of property value. For transparency, the nickel tax is calculated for each school district individually. Based on state calculations, the Lawrence County nickel tax would be around 6 cents per $100 of property value.” As you know, the Lawrence County Board of Education intends to pursue a double-nickel tax and will officially vote on the increase following a public tax hearing that will be held on March 15th. According to officials at KDE, the Lawrence County double-nickel calculation will be 12.4 cents per $100 of property value assessed. The chart below gives sample property tax assessments and the investment that the local taxpayer would provide, if the double nickel passes.
Property Values vs. Additional Investment By the Taxpayer
(Note: This amount is paid only by those who pay property taxes and only 1 time per year)
|
Property Value |
Additional Property Tax |
|
$100.00 |
$0.12 |
|
$1,000.00 |
$1.24 |
|
$2,000.00 |
$2.48 |
|
$3,000.00 |
$3.72 |
|
$4,000.00 |
$4.96 |
|
$5,000.00 |
$6.20 |
|
$10,000.00 |
$12.40 |
|
$15,000.00 |
$18.60 |
|
$20,000.00 |
$24.80 |
|
$25,000.00 |
$31.00 |
|
$30,000.00 |
$37.20 |
|
$40,000.00 |
$49.60 |
|
$50,000.00 |
$62.00 |
|
$60,000.00 |
$74.40 |
|
$70,000.00 |
$86.80 |
|
$80,000.00 |
$99.20 |
|
$90,000.00 |
$111.60 |
|
$100,000.00 |
$124.00 |
|
$110,000.00 |
$136.40 |
|
$120,000.00 |
$148.80 |
|
$130,000.00 |
$161.20 |
|
$140,000.00 |
$173.60 |
|
$150,000.00 |
$186.00 |
|
$175,000.00 |
$217.00 |
|
$200,000.00 |
$248.00 |
|
$225,000.00 |
$279.00 |
|
$250,000.00 |
$310.00 |
|
$275,000.00 |
$341.00 |
|
$300,000.00 |
$372.00 |
If you want to know the exact amount, you can do the following math:
0.124 multiplied by (your property value) divided by 100 = Tax Amount You Pay
In short, if you own very little property, then you will pay a much smaller amount than someone who owns a very large amount of property.
Question 2: How does our tax rate compare with surrounding districts?
According to information that can be found on the Kentucky Department of Education’s website, Lawrence County property owners currently pay the LOWEST tax rate in the 15th region and one of the lower property tax rates in the eastern part of our state. (Lawrence County residents also have the SECOND LOWEST motor vehicle tax rate in the entire state of Kentucky.) Raceland, Paintsville, Martin County, Floyd County, Boyd County, Johnson County, and others have taken advantage of the recallable nickel and the matching funds from the state to build new schools and to make other major renovations. Other school systems (such as Pike County, Russell, Pikeville, etc.) do not have the recallable nickel but have a higher real estate tax rate to help fund facilities. With this in mind, it simply makes sense to have the recallable nickel tax in order to receive additional funds from the state. Remember, our property tax would raise $11.5 million, while the state would GIVE us $13.5 million over the next 20 years. Finally, many districts have received additional “lump sums” from the state that are over-and-above the matching funds simply because they already had the recallable nickel tax.
Which School Districts Have the Recallable Nickel in Our Area?
Including the Total Real Estate (Property) Tax Rate for Each District
|
District |
Recallable |
Total Real Estate |
|
502 Raceland Independent |
6 |
99.7 |
|
477 Paintsville Independent |
5.4 |
96.8 |
|
491 Pike County |
0 |
88.7 |
|
162 Fairview Independent |
5.9 |
88.5 |
|
522 Russell Independent |
0 |
84.9 |
|
385 Martin County |
6.7 |
84.6 |
|
276 Jenkins Independent |
0 |
84.5 |
|
221 Greenup County |
0 |
82.8 |
|
492 Pikeville Independent |
0 |
74.7 |
|
175 Floyd County |
6.3 |
69 |
|
012 Ashland Independent |
6.1 |
68.2 |
|
045 Boyd County |
5.7 |
67.7 |
|
441 Morgan County |
7.1 |
60.8 |
|
371 Magoffin County |
7 |
59.9 |
|
285 Johnson County |
12.6 |
59.2 |
|
315 Lawrence County |
0 |
57.2 |
|
515 Rowan County |
5.7 |
53.4 |
|
105 Carter County |
0 |
47 |
|
155 Elliott County |
0 |
43.8 |
Note: The information above can be found on the Kentucky Department of Education’s website, specifically at https://education.ky.gov/districts/SEEK/Pages/Taxes.aspx
In closing, there have been many needs listed in our district facilities plans over the past twelve years that were addressed through other funding sources that did not cost our local taxpayers any more money. For example, our old DFP had a new vocational building and HVAC replacements. We wrote a grant ($9.28 million) for the new vocational building and utilized COVID grant money for HVAC (over $2.5 million) as well as purchased 10 buses (over $1 million total) with COVID grant money. Our taxpayers paid ZERO extra dollars for this. If we could do the same for a new school, I will work night and day to make it happen. Unfortunately, the state will not give us enough money to build a school and make the other renovations needed without additional taxes to our community. If legislators were to change their stance on requiring the nickel in order to provide funding for a new school, the Board and I would take every step to lower taxes accordingly. As long as I am superintendent, I will do my best to keep taxes as low as possible while providing for the needs for our students and staff members. I have faith that the Lawrence County Board of Education will do the same.
We are committed to the kids, the school staff members, and the taxpayers of this community.
Why? Because we are…
#AllinLC
Dr. Robbie Fletcher
606.638.9671
robbie.fletcher@lawrence.kyschools.us
All of the articles in the series can be found on our website:
https://www.lawrence.kyschools.us/documents/school-year-2022-2023/local-planning-committee/396589
And the kids will all the money YOU want to spend will it make them smarter? That is what the schools should do.
That’s the only answer the taxpayers need and I have not seen it mentioned no where.
Well, it probably will make them smarter and healthier. Look at it this way; a new facility will be way cleaner than the rotting down building we have now and since they will be less sick, they will attend school more. Another way to look at it would be that the facility would be built to modern standards and will be able to accommodate all the modern teaching methods. Another way would be by looking at the amount of money and man power saved by not trying to repair a falling in building and can be utilized at another school better. Do you really think these buildings last forever?
Robert you either work or retired from the school system or maybe married to a school employee. Or maybe you just might have some say into who will receive all the NEW money that will be collected.
And I see NO where there’s a Promise just a probably the kids will get smarter.
When the taxpayers give you millions of dollars there should be a promise not a probably.
How is money saved by not repairing facilities vs building a new one? How about where is all the money factored into the budget for updates and repairs gone? Fletchers position is we are the lowest and pay the least amount blah blah. We don’t want to be neighboring counties or we’d move there. Quit trying to make this something else. Manage money better since that’s what every household has to do and what every company on planet earth has to do.. besides AEP of course….they just pass everything to the consumer! Then 20 years from now they’ll wanna build 2 more new schools and ask for more and say you’re selfish for not wanting to pay more! That school hasn’t been updated for 30 years! That’s negligence are their behalf! You don’t got 30 years and not update your home do you? No because that’s not what someone with common sense does, you repair as needed. You don’t go set on a cooler at Walmart and beg for money for a new roof, you manage your finances and make it work!
Couldn’t agree anymore Tom
If they can’t promise the kids will learn more what’s the purpose then?
If Fletcher wants to be like the other counties I will chip in for a U-Haul rental
The voters rejected this once but he thinks he know more than the voters time for him and the board to go.