The Florence City Council held a special meeting on September 22, 2025, where key ordinances regarding electric franchises and property taxes were discussed and approved.

The primary focus of the meeting was an ordinance that establishes a nonexclusive electric franchise for the placement of facilities necessary for the transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity within the city. This franchise will last for 20 years and allows the city to impose a franchise fee of up to 5% on the gross receipts from electricity sales within its corporate limits. City officials emphasized that this ordinance does not raise electric rates or implement a franchise fee at this stage; rather, it provides a legal framework for the bidding process, which is expected to attract responses from utility companies like Duke Energy.

City Council members noted that this ordinance is a routine measure, as previous agreements have expired and need to be rebid to maintain oversight of electric services. The council unanimously approved the ordinance, which will now proceed to the bidding phase.

In addition to the electric franchise, the council also approved an ordinance related to the levying of taxes on real estate and personal property. This ordinance sets the tax rates for the general fund and establishes a franchise tax on financial institutions based on their deposits. The tax rates include 18.7 cents per $100 of value on real property and 23.9 cents per $100 on personal property, with specific provisions for discounts and penalties for late payments.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on a resolution from the Boone County Planning Commission, although no decisions were made on this topic during the session. Overall, the council's actions reflect ongoing efforts to manage city utilities and financial obligations effectively.