Christian County school board members voted Thursday night to keep the tax rates “as is” and not make any changes.
Superintendent Chris Bentzel made the recommendation not to take the 4 percent tax rate increase for fiscal year 2020-21 due to the hardships being created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He added the rate increase would have generated an additional $400,000 of revenue for the district.
The current tax rate for real estate and personal property is 42.8 cents per $100 assessed valuation, the motor vehicle tax rate of 56.6 cents per $100 assessed valuation, and the utility tax at 3 percent.
In other business, Director of Finance Jessica Darnell presented the working budget of approximately $92.5 million for the 2020-21 school year, which she said is an increase from last year’s budget due to the CARES funding package the district received.
Board members also heard a COVID-19 update. There are currently 21 positive cases involving students and three staff members with the COVID dashboard showing 188 currently quarantined. Bentzel said they did have an increase of cases at Hopkinsville High School and Indian Hills Elementary School this week, along with one positive test at Christian County High School that resulted in 27 quarantines.
Bentzel said he feels like they have mitigated the situation and have decided to postpone the CCHS versus HHS football game to ensure they are doing everything they can to keep schools in session. However, he added they are ready to go to virtual learning at any time at any school with all extra-curricular activities at that school to be canceled at that time.
He said all of the cases are doing well.
The next regular school board meeting will be Thursday evening, October 15, at 6:00.
