Covington school board lowers property tax rate by 17%, approves major renovation project
The Covington Independent Schools board of education lowered its property tax rate by 17% Thursday evening. But because of rising property assessments in the city, the district will see an increase in revenue to its general fund for teacher and staff salaries, updated technology and other student needs.
Superintendent Alvin Garrison said the district's tax rate has not been this low since 2003. He recommended a tax rate of 89.5 cents, 18.6 cents less than last year’s property tax rate. But Covington’s finance director Annette Burtschy said not all property owners will see a tax decrease, since the rate is determined by the value assessment of individual homes.
The board also unanimously approved a major renovation to Holmes high and middle schools to improve classrooms, restrooms, the gymnasium and auditorium and reconstruct the girls’ softball field to comply with the Americans with Disability Act and Title IX. The new field will include lights, a dugout, a press box, bleachers, a scoreboard, netting, poles, electrical feeds and fencing.
Head softball coach Dan Curtis, who spoke during the public hearing at Thursday’s meeting, said the girls on his team have been playing on a baseball field. He said it “seems like the time is right” to get a new softball field in the area, and he believes other local softball teams will use it, too.
Curtis won’t be coaching much longer, he said.
“But I want that field to be there for the young ladies who are in Covington now and who will be there in the future,” he told the board.
The total project will likely cost between $9-12 million, Garrison said.
The board did not take a tax increase from 2012 to 2020, Burtschy said in a news release, although the board could have imposed up to a 4% increase during each of those years. Growing student needs led the board to increase taxes last school year.
The city of Covington and local businesses are to thank for increased property values, school board member Tom Haggard said. He and board member Stephen Gastright expressed a desire to attract more families and teachers to the district as the region enters a more competitive arena for education with additional private and charter schools.
“We believe we should offer the best for our students, teachers, staff and community,’’ Garrison said in a release. “They definitely deserve it."
The Holmes renovation project plan will be sent to the Kentucky Department of Education for approval.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Covington Schools lowers property taxes, approves Holmes renovation project
