Christian Fiscal Court votes to keep tax rates the same

Christian Fiscal Court unanimously approved first reading of an ordinance Tuesday morning that would keep property tax rates the same.

The tax rate on real property would remain 18.7 cents per $100 of assessed value and it would stay an even 20 cents on tangible property, if magistrates approve the ordinance on second reading next month.

Judge-Executive Steve Tribble says it creates some additional revenue the county may need with many questions lingering on the pension system.

Fiscal Court accepted bids totaling about $168,000 for installing modernized lighting in all seven courtrooms at the Christian County Justice Center, with those funds to eventually come from the Administrative Office of the Courts. About $141,000 of that money is for the supplies and engineer Thomas Waldron says the new fixtures will be more energy-efficient.

A change order for renovations to the Alhambra was approved, giving the project another $181,000 and the contractors another month to complete the job—meaning the new target date is October 31st. Magistrate Daryl Gustafson says the contractor ran into several unforeseen safety concerns–particularly with the balcony and the floor in the lobby area.