The petition to get the Christian County School Board’s proposed ‘nickel tax’ increase on an election ballot was submitted Monday afternoon at the Christian County Clerk’s office.
It will now undergo verification and counting to see exactly how many signatures of people who are said to be registered voters in Christian County it contains. The Citizens Right to Vote on Tax Increase needs exactly 2,226 for the question to be placed on a ballot to be voted upon.
Christian County Elections Coordinator Melinda Humphries says they have 30 days to make sure enough of the signatures are registered voters in Christian County before giving final certification.
Mark Graham with the Citizen’s Right to Vote on Tax Increase says the Christian County Board of Education can wait until the existing November general election for the public vote at no cost, or choose to pay for a special election this summer that could cost the district approximately $70,000.
The ballot question would simply ask voters if they are in favor or against the tax increase, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an extra $55 annually. The school system says new revenue gained from the tax hike would be used for bonding on construction of a new academic building at Hopkinsville High School.
Those opposed to the tax hike say they’re not against new school buildings, but want to give the people of Christian County the chance to vote whether they want the increase or not for themselves.