[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6478207,"mediaKeyId","5710120-ba7fc46dc2ec8bd3de0c8afbab2e4a09","parentId",5710120,"title","Florence finance director proposes 3% reduction in 2025 property tax rates; public hearing set for Sept. 3","audioSeconds",311,"startMs",54000,"endMs",365000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710120-ba7fc46dc2ec8bd3de0c8afbab2e4a09&start=54&end=365","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710120-ba7fc46dc2ec8bd3de0c8afbab2e4a09/thumbnail_54000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6478207/Florence/Boone-County/Kentucky/Florence-finance-director-proposes-3-reduction-in-2025-property-tax-rates-public-hearing-set-for-Sept-3","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478207-374626d97f823307fb46cb5523b35ba5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773788083&Signature=eEYX8v4zVkbRwRvPRf-v8Yb5tPSBUAaIdl2Fq9vBWBuzldLFw~1RaET7nsWGnsUZkS-KvDDwImdiDBo5kHYYG8rQWdXbmO~oU4lG5V7eX46mQsuv4z-vqHYmDIGm2hMsB0QU-xAhA1lTVZhSMOUOT1Bc93VJZH2CjCsbXvUcIQj~iiSe~VvQIHGjVDjnLf6a5wrFZtTQT9osOCTKhxsDKD-xHsTdugRAlOuVwLCsN3es7AoKM1FvjwkfCisAVLNpr-g5FIYD9-iwfvtyvAioEqMWSbG2WFoNpteoOp7nf~jha2aO8lknye3DimuMdnIPD1sHJjGIUci-OJlHnMTRCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Florence, KY","date","2025-09-03T11:49:43Z","article","Jason Lewis, Florence’s finance director, told the City Council caucus that staff is proposing a 3% reduction in the city’s real- and tangible-property tax rates for tax year 2025 and recommended the council hold a public hearing before adopting final rates.

The proposal would lower the city’s projected property-tax revenue for fiscal year 2025–26 to about $10.1 million, Lewis said, and “on average, real estate tax bills would decrease around $25 per bill.” He told council the 3% reduction is intended to keep revenue growth “slow but manageable” given recent assessment changes.

Why it matters: Florence publishes the maximum rates required by Kentucky law but may set rates below those maximums. Lewis said Boone County’s assessments for 2025 showed about 3% growth in real-property assessments, while tangible (business) assessments fell sharply — goods stored in public warehouses, which make up roughly half of the city’s tangible base, declined about 30% versus last year. Those changes drive the city’s allowable maximums and the staff proposal.

Lewis summarized the legal and numerical framework behind the proposal. He cited KRS 78.530(3) as authorizing a special assessment to fund hazardous-duty retirement service costs and said the statutory maximum for that special hazardous-duty assessment is $1.47 per $1,000 of assessed value. Based on Boone County’s assessment rolls, he reported the statutory maximums published in the city’s legal ad as: $1.87 per $1,000 for real property and $2.39 per $1,000 for tangible property.

To reach the 3% reduction, Lewis said the city would apply a special assessment of $0.44 per $1,000 so the combined real-property total would be $2.31 per $1,000 (compared with $2.38 last year). Because tangible assessments declined, Lewis explained, the maximum allowable tangible rate moves inversely and the total rate shown for tangible property in staff scenarios is higher than last year even though assessed values fell.

Lewis warned that tangible-property valuations can move year to year because much of the base is self-reported business inventory and warehouse-stored goods. He said revenue scenarios show roughly $100,000 in city revenue change for each percentage-point change in the tax rate, and that for residents each 1% rate decrease reduces an average bill by about $10–$15.

Council questions focused on what is included in the tangible base and the reliability of those numbers. Councilmember Whalen asked for clarification of tangible-property components; Lewis listed merchandise inventory, manufacturers’ finished goods, goods stored in public warehouses (the largest component), charter aircraft and certain registered watercraft, and construction work in progress.

Council next steps: the mayor announced a public hearing on the proposed 2025 tax rates to be held Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 4:30 p.m. in the council chambers at the Florence Government Center, and invited written comments to the city clerk by email or phone if residents cannot attend in person. The council will consider the public input and the financial projections before setting final rates, which may be lower than the published maximums.

Background and context: Lewis noted that the city’s long-term compound annual growth in property-tax revenue since 2017 has been about 3% and that staff used that historical average when modeling scenarios for revenue stability.

A city-advertised table and staff memo with multiple rate scenarios were included in council packets for further review ahead of the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Florence City Council Caucus Meeting - 2025.09.02","oneSentenceSummary","Jason Lewis, Florence’s finance director, told the City Council caucus that staff is proposing a 3% reduction in the city’s real- and tangible-property tax rates for tax year 2025 and recommended the council hold a public hearing before adopting final rates.","taxTitle","Florence, Boone County, Kentucky","taxId",64547,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478195,"Florence police say they do not perform routine vehicle lockouts; county assistance available in emergencies",61,1156000,1217000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710120-ba7fc46dc2ec8bd3de0c8afbab2e4a09&start=1156&end=1217","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710120-ba7fc46dc2ec8bd3de0c8afbab2e4a09/thumbnail_1156000.jpg","/articles/6478195/Florence/Boone-County/Kentucky/Florence-police-say-they-do-not-perform-routine-vehicle-lockouts-county-assistance-available-in-emergencies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478195-45d73a5027c32c36f2e70a86b4f18b51/orig.mp4?Expires=1773788083&Signature=Dac6IG09rrcTSh8iAxaI4WhkO9w0Qs5TkiiQ~c~uizkpy34KeisHZ9~-nVdWceUycZfKY3GqTJ9N69~CpP9ThQcuwKpFjqLiq38uM4eEuECtDD26IWP-n5~9NBTx0ign7N6OyH7fB6kcbRSPWiEY4ERmbOdCTEztSZjo1P5gDxYnQm7L8j4viRBFsIQp-L97MgErw1PoWnloMuC8TU3ftGIoT5X3uNng9Ju4QI6m~5aKS9T~H8m6~wr1kHD4kz06UjL8Uif6XnrwjuRm6D7ZMKlZ7Hlh6cw87vkNNL08UOO36VH8Xck8XEfw93KFqDUPLTmsM5V0-wCFuLzQMfoyuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Chambers asked the police chief to explain the city’s policy on vehicle lockouts after hearing the county’s practice differs from the city’s.

The police chief replied that Florence officers do not have the equipment or training to perform lockouts and that the county previously handled many lockouts for shoppers in Florence. The chief said a Florence supervisor can request county personnel to respond in emergency situations — for example, if a child or a distressed animal is locked in a vehicle — but for non-emergencies motorists are expected to call a tow company or a locksmith.

A fire-service representative added that modern vehicle door electronics and liability concerns have led fire departments to stop routinely opening vehicle doors; in emergencies the fire service said it may break a window to gain access rather than attempt internal door-entry procedures.

Why it matters: The clarification delineates which agencies will respond in emergency lockout situations and informs residents about options for non-emergency lockouts.

No policy change was proposed during the caucus; the remarks described current practice and interagency response options.","The Florence police chief told council the department lacks equipment and training to perform vehicle lockouts; in emergencies (children or animals in distress) supervisors can request county assistance, otherwise motorists must use a locksmith or tow service. Fire responders generally avoid door openings and may break windows in life-threatening",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6478201,"Council discusses new visitor guide distribution; brochure paid from prior fiscal funding",46,1050000,1096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5710120-ba7fc46dc2ec8bd3de0c8afbab2e4a09&start=1050&end=1096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5710120-ba7fc46dc2ec8bd3de0c8afbab2e4a09/thumbnail_1050000.jpg","/articles/6478201/Florence/Boone-County/Kentucky/Council-discusses-new-visitor-guide-distribution-brochure-paid-from-prior-fiscal-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6478201-47dbd5158088f41dd422193f45a596a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773788083&Signature=BD1hFpxZPlM6LnW4~7JEW5q1nksIM9Ep5~964FsLFAcaAgEjTZI2s3Xde85dNTBXx8BgzEVjxoH1LTeLpK~VgEHptD8i4Z0C1BZWmyx~~GjX~ZZLCaJCPTiT~KqwwaoxSUkyHXqFEdkw2xrs9Fd3ORsthoG-tBnpFvnTqh8rq6HtFD3X5Pyy5kmvi5lalkWM0azm5S8020v3gi66V5rMcFtnhYZhdMpQbOpcIX4S4t-v7lC1ABw4c6lQ0TWotapvxnEy80Fjv8bil50E2CG-q2oQPWwMJFzH01WGHOZQpXeqcgBY5N-dJgdLPfVnInYIZSsnufjyz1LQfX7cuw-RCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmembers reviewed a newly produced visitor guide and asked about distribution and target audience.

Councilmember Whalen complimented the brochure and asked how it would be distributed and who the target audience was. A staff member said Minden, Ky., had already picked up a few boxes, the city will deliver copies to visitor centers and some restaurants have requested copies, and the guide is available on the city website and by mail upon request. The staff member said the guide was funded from a prior fiscal-year budget rather than the current year's budget and that the city plans to update the guide approximately every three years.

Why it matters: City-produced visitor materials affect tourism outreach and how city events and businesses are presented to visitors; council asked distribution and frequency questions to understand reach and cost.

Council information: staff noted the guide will be useful for next year’s Florence Y’all’s All Star Game and that residents may request a mailed copy, but the guide is not being mailed proactively to all residents.

Contact: staff directed council members to the city website for the digital copy and said residents can request print copies through city administration.","Councilmembers reviewed distribution plans for a newly produced Florence visitor guide: boxes will be sent to regional visitor centers and select restaurants, copies are available on the city website and by request, and staff said the guide was paid from a prior fiscal-year budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Florence finance director proposes 3% reduction in 2025 property tax rates; public hearing set for Sept. 3

Florence police say they do not perform routine vehicle lockouts; county assistance available in emergencies

Council discusses new visitor guide distribution; brochure paid from prior fiscal funding