Staff report
Covington Independent Public Schools voted 5-0 to lower their property tax rate by 17% at their board meeting this week.
Superintendent Alvin Garrison has recommended a tax rate of 89.5 cents, a reduction of 18.6 cents from last year’s rate of 108.1 cents on real estate.
Following a public hearing on the property tax rate, council approved a 17% tax rate reduction.
Covington Independent Public Schools,
“The tax rate hasn’t been this low since 2003,” Garrison said.
The board has been good stewards of taxpayers’ money, said Annette Burtschy, Covington’s chief financial officer, noting that from 2012 through 2020 the board has not taken a raise. tax, although it could have taken up to 4% increase in each of those years. . In the 2021-22 school year, as the needs of the district grew, the board finally decided to raise taxes.
Even if the council proposes to cut the tax rate by 17%, not all residents will see a decrease, Burtschy warned. The amount residents pay is determined by the assessment of their home.
With a district strategic plan goal of making continuous improvement, Covington will use property tax revenue to keep Covington teacher and staff salaries on par with other northern Kentucky districts, update the technology and facilities and meet the needs associated with our growing population of English language learners.
“We believe in providing the best for our students, teachers, staff and community,” Garrison said. “They really deserve it.”