City council approves property tax rate

Hopkinsville City Council approved taking the 4 percent increase in revenue that would raise the property tax rate to 23.9 cents per $100 of assessed value at Tuesday’s meeting.

That’s an increase of eight-tenths of a penny from the current rate and it would require a second-reading before passing.  Chief Financial Officer Robert Martin says city council had previously approved the budget for this fiscal year, which included an assumption of the 4 percent increase in revenue, and if they took the compensating rate or less, they would be under budget.

Mayor Carter Hendricks says the increase comes up to about an extra eight dollars on the tax bill of the owner of a $100,000 home.

Council members Jason Bell and Tom Johnson voted no to the increase.

In other action, city council approved an amendment taking the existing Airport Board from six members to 10 members and approved a loan agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville for their kitchen and cafeteria project.

The loan is for $185,467, with the Boys and Girls Club to pay back that amount when outstanding pledges for the project come in.  Council also authorized an agreement with Westerfield Builders to construct the kitchen and cafeteria.