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School board lowers taxes
(The Sentinel Echo (London, Kentucky) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 28--For the second year, School Board members agreed to lower taxes. Laurel Countians will now pay 42.2 cents per $100 for their real estate.
That means people owning a $100,000 home will pay $422 in school tax this year. Last year, they paid $439.
For their tangible property -- meaning anything that is not real estate or a vehicle -- people will pay 43.1 cents per $100, as opposed to last year's 45.2 cents.
Vehicle tax has stayed the same at 35 cents per $100.
"We, like you, are concerned with rising fuel costs, increases on essentials for everyday living, stress on the housing market and local business," Laurel County School Board Chairwoman Lola Owens Reed stated. "Due to all these factors, I am going to recommend the lowest, possible compensating rate allowed by law; yet the new rate will allow us to service all our schools adequately as well as continually striving to keep a balanced budget."
"No one likes to pay taxes, but on a positive note, the Laurel County School District has been afforded the many, needed classrooms and facilities to meet the needs of our growing district," she added.
Tax bills will be mailed out by the Laurel County Sheriff's Office in the fall.
Board Members had four tax options from which to choose, as set by the Kentucky General Assembly. Two of the choices involved raising taxes, while the other two lowered them.
The option the Board Members chose allowed them to lower taxes the most out of all the options.
School Board members felt they could afford to do so because Laurel County is growing, meaning with each new house that is built more tax dollars will be collected. As such, the school district can afford to lower taxes because of the increased number of people contributing to the tax pool.
Motion was made by Reed, seconded by Tommy Smith and unanimously approved. Member Albert Binder was not present at Monday's meeting.
In other actions, School Board members:
--Agreed to allow Saint Joseph-London and London Pediatrics staff to come into the schools to provide free hygiene education to preschool and sixth grade students. The education will focus on issues like correct tooth brushing and washing techniques for children, while parents will be educated on things like head lice and immunization schedules. Former school principal Ginger Waldroff is heading the program. "The more reinforcement the better," she said. "I know the self-esteem issues. That's something that really weighs heavy on my heart." Motion was made by Eddie Jones, seconded by Smith and unanimously approved.
--Agreed to sell district cafeteria tables, televisions, photocopiers, furniture, equipment and vehicles. The sale will take place in the form of an auction some time in September. There will be about 200 televisions up for grabs, as well as old library furniture and equipment from South Laurel middle and high schools. Motion was made by Smith, seconded by Joe Schenkenfelder and unanimously approved.
--Agreed to offer supplemental services to free and reduced lunch students at South and North Laurel middle schools, as required by No Child Left Behind requirements. The services mean the district will pay for online tutorial program subscriptions, or, in some cases, in-home tutoring for those students. The district can spend up to $1,235 per student. Parents get to choose supplemental services programs from one of seven companies that service Laurel County. Motion was made by Schenkenfelder, seconded by Jones and unanimously approved.
--Allowed North Laurel High School to accept a $14,700 Tech Prep grant with Eastern Kentucky University. Motion was made by Schenkenfelder, seconded by Smith and unanimously approved.
--Allowed Cold Hill Elementary to accept a $3,250 PRIDE grant, which will go toward paying for equipment for the school's science lab. Motion was made by Jones, seconded by Schenkenfelder and unanimously approved.
--Created one reading teacher position at Colony Elementary (motion by Smith, seconded by Jones, unanimous); created one math teacher position at North Laurel High School (motion by Schenkenfelder, seconded by Jones, unanimous); created two Title I assistant positions at Johnson Elementary (motion by Schenkenfelder, seconded by Smith, unanimous); created an assistant project manager position to implement the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools grant (motion by Smith, seconded by Jones, unanimous).
Staff writer Tara Kaprowy can be reached by e-mail at tkaprowy@sentinel-echo.com.
To see more of The Sentinel Echo, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sentinel-echo.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Sentinel Echo, London, Ky.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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