Hopkinsville City Council approves tax rate, purchasing more security cameras

Meeting in special session, Hopkinsville City Council Thursday night approved final reading of a property tax ordinance that decreases the rate while increasing revenue.

The tax rate on real property decreases from 23.9 to 22.5 cents per $100 of assessed value under the ordinance, but it still creates a four-percent increase in revenue due to growth and increased assessments in the last year.

The rates on personal property and vehicles would remain the same under the ordinance.

Councilmembers Jason Bell and Terry Parker cast the only ‘no’ votes.

In other action, council approved spending up to $300,000 in COVID funds to purchase 85 security cameras that Councilmember Amy Craig says will be installed along the rail-trail and elsewhere in the city as a public safety measure.

A motion allotting $45,000 in funds to construct a sidewalk along Gateway Lane near Hopkinsville High and Middle Schools failed on a 5-6 vote, as several members wanted additional time to discuss the matter.