Christian County School System Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill says she’ll recommend a special election for the Board of Education’s proposed nickel property tax increase, if enough signatures are verified to take a vote on the matter.
Citizens Right to Vote on Tax Increase submitted its petitions Monday and Mark Graham said he’s confident they’ve exceeded the 2,226 signature threshold to get the tax on the ballot.
Appearing on WHOP Wednesday, Gemmill said it will be her recommendation for the district to spend the approximately $70,000 needed to fund a special election and have it before November to begin collecting the additional revenue with this year’s property tax bills, if the vote goes in the board’s favor.
She says waiting until November, which would not require the district to fund an election, would delay construction of a new academic building at Hopkinsville High School.
The school board would ultimately make the final decision on when an election would be held.
Gemmill says she respects the process and the passion of those against the tax hike, but the district believes in its direction.
Tiger Connection will hold a nickel tax informational forum Thursday night at 6 in the Hopkinsville High School gymnasium. Judge Andrew Self will be the moderator and a panel from the Christian Public School System will answer questions regarding the nickel tax and proposed new academic building.