Bowling Green council adopts reallocation of unvoted income tax; schedules ballot question on additional levy

Bowling Green City Council voted to amend how the city allocates its unvoted 1.5% municipal income tax and adopted a resolution to put a proposed 0.15% income-tax increase before voters, after several hours of public comment and council debate about street repairs, utility rates and long-term capital needs.

The council adopted Ordinance 9,287, which changes the allocation table for the existing unvoted 1.5% income tax to redistribute capital funding beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The council also adopted Resolution 3,885 declaring the necessity of an election on a separate proposal to levy an additional 0.15% income tax to fund public safety projects; a related ordinance that would levy the increase was tabled to Nov. 17, 2025.

The vote followed public comments urging the council to increase money for streets, sidewalks and pedestrian safety. “The data shows a real concern that pedestrians do not feel safe crossing certain intersections or walking on the sidewalk with traffic so close,” said Debbie Thompson, who identified…