Board of Education Tax Hearing
September 16, 2008 04:30PM
Central Office, Bardstown, Ky.
The Nelson County Board of Education held a special session at the District Central Office, 288 Wildcat Lane, Bardstown, Ky., beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 with the following members present: Mr. Frank Hall, Mr. Damon Jackey, Ms. Judy Richardson Jett, Mr. Nicky Rapier, Mr. Adam Wheatley. 
I. Call to Order: Nelson County Board of Education Chairperson Judy Richardson Jett called the hearing to order at 4:30 p.m. 
 
II. Guidelines for Hearing: Chairperson Judy Richardson Jett explained the public hearing guidelines: three minutes for individuals to address the board and five minutes for persons representing organized groups.  

III. Presentation to the Board Regarding the Recommended Tax Rates 
Director of Administrative Services Tim Hockensmith recommended that the Nelson County Board of Education adopt a 4% rate of 57.4 cents per $100 of real property and 57.4 cents per $100 dollars of personal property.   This rate includes .4 to recover losses due to prior year exonerations. In addition, he recommended that the Nelson County Board of Education levy a rate of 54.80 per $100 dollars in valuation for motor vehicles. He noted that this rate would partially cover the state-mandated 1% salary increase for teachers, the 1.45% step increase for teacher salaries, and escalating fuel costs.   In addition, the district is in need of replacing, at minimum, 5 to 6 school buses.

IV. Guest Comments  
Ms. Debbie Davis asked for more detail regarding the possible tax rates allowed by the state; information regarding the four allowable rates was provided by Mr. Hockensmith.   Mr. Joe Armstrong asked whether school programs had been cut or added.   Superintendent Lantz provided information about program cuts such as the Artist-in-Residence program and indicated that positions had also been cut at the end of the past school year.   Mr. Alan Brown questioned what additional cuts might be made.   Some discussion was held as to possible additional programs and activities that might be curtailed if further cuts were necessary.   It was agreed that a discussion of various school programs currently available would be scheduled at a later date with Superintendent Lantz and Tim Hockensmith.  

V. Adjournment  
Primary Motion Passed:  Action to adjourn was passed with a motion by Mr. Frank Hall and a second by Mr. Adam Wheatley. Motion carried unanimously. 

VI. Convene Executive Session: No Executive Session was called due to time constraints.  

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Chairperson
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Superintendent