PVA’s office encourages school board to accept lower compensating tax rate

Published 11:00 am Friday, August 23, 2024

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The office of the Clark County Property Valuation Administrator, or PVA, continues to be active. 

Jada Brady, who was elected to the position in November 2022, recently addressed members of the general public via – among other places – Facebook. 

In an open message to Clark County citizens whom she hoped would take action, she requested and advocated for Clark County Public Schools board members to accept a lower compensating tax rate. 

Email newsletter signup

“[During] the last few months I’ve spoken in front of several groups speaking about tax rates. We have a [sic] opportunity this year to see a decrease in the tax rate, but here is where I need your assistance. I need every Clark County Taxpayer to share this post and draft your own email to each School Board Member and the Superintendent politely asking them to take a lower rate, only The [sic] Compensating Tax Rate,” stated Brady’s post, which was published on Facebook. 

Speaking over the phone, Brady stated that such action could have a significant impact. 

“The school board is the largest benefactor of the property taxes. Right now, they receive 67.5% of everything that’s going with property taxes”, she said. “They’ve taken full rates in the past, and they’ve taken compensating rates in the past. Because we’ve had such [an]  increase in regards to our property assessment values, I thought it was a good time for us to see a decrease in our overall tax rate and they would have the strongest effect on that tax rate.” 

As stated on its website, the Kentucky Department of Education certifies the rates that may be levied to local state districts. 

According to Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Calculation Report 1 for Clark County’s District 121, the 2024-25 compensating tax rate for “Real Estate Property” would be 64.3, while a 4% increase would equal 66.8. 

“Either rate would be a lower tax rate than the 67.5% we had last year,” added Brady. “Clearly taking the compensating rate would have a bigger impact on the overall tax rate.” 

On Facebook, Brady stated that the decision wouldn’t impact other aspects. 

“To be clear[,] this will not decrease the total funding that the school board will receive. In fact, due to the increase in new property they will receive the same funding and more”, she said. “By asking that they take Only [sic] The Compensating Rate you are not taking funding away from the schools.” 

Brady added that multiple citizens have responded thus far.

“I’ve actually seen several [individuals] take the email…and email it out to their own groups”, she said. “I’ve seen a lot of positive impact. I haven’t seen a lot of negative impact, which I’m grateful for.” 

Asked what she hopes to see at the next school board meeting – scheduled for Tuesday, August 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the main CCBOE offices of 1600 West Lexington Avenue – Brady responded. 

“I hope that they will take the compensating tax rate”, she wrote. “I’m not trying to take money away from kids or away from the school system, but I am trying to protect the citizens of Clark County in regards to how much money is coming out of their pocket in paying their property taxes.”