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Paducah commissioners adopt 2025-26 tax levy after public comments urging alternatives to traditional property tax increase
Summary
Paducah commissioners on Sept. 15 adopted the city's 2025-26 tax levy ordinance after public commenters urged alternatives to a traditional property-tax increase and staff outlined the revenue impact of alternative rates.
The Paducah Board of Commissioners on Sept. 15 adopted an ordinance setting property tax levies for fiscal 2025-26 after a period of public comment in which two residents urged the commission to consider alternatives to conventional property-tax increases.
Public comment: Jonathan Gericke told commissioners he opposed planned tax increases and cited the proposed sports-park spending as an example of optional city expenditures. Parker Jayco spoke at length about tax principle and recommended Paducah study a split-rate tax (higher rate on land, lower rate on buildings) as used in places such as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, arguing that conventional property-tax increases can discourage development and shift costs to renters via higher rents. Jayco said he was not calling for an immediate switch but urged the commission to consider alternatives.
Staff explanation and question: City staff (Audra) told the board that if the commission were to take the compensating rate instead of the proposed levy, the difference in revenue would be roughly $257,000 for the year. Commissioners discussed outreach and the need to balance service levels with costs; several commissioners noted constituent conversations and rising construction and material costs.
Ordinance details: the adopted ordinance sets the 2025-26 rates (excerpted): general fund real property 0.271 per $100; general fund personal property except inventory 0.356 per $100; motor vehicles and watercraft 0.39 per $100. School-related rates in the ordinance include Paducah Junior College rates (0.014 per $100) and Paducah Independent School District real and personal property at 0.882 per $100. The ordinance also sets tax-bill due dates: bills under $2,000 due 11/01/2025 (without penalty through 11/30/2025); other bills payable in two halves (first half due 11/01/2025, second half due 02/01/2026) under the schedule printed in the ordinance.
Commissioners then voted on the ordinance; roll calls recorded unanimous votes in favor. Commissioners spoke before the vote about representing constituent views and balancing long-term investment needs for police, fire and infrastructure with taxpayer concerns; Mayor George P. Bray said the decision was intended to position the city to continue planned services and projects.
The ordinance was adopted and will govern tax rates and billing for fiscal 2025-26.
