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Hopkinsville council passes occupational license tax amendment after tie and deciding vote
Summary
The Hopkinsville City Council approved Ordinance 32-2025, changing the city's occupational license tax, after a 5-5 tie was broken when the presiding officer cast the deciding vote; Council member Velez abstained, citing a difficult choice.
The Hopkinsville City Council approved Ordinance 32-2025 on Nov. 18, 2025, an amendment to the city's occupational license tax, after a tie in the roll call was resolved by the presiding officer's deciding vote.
The measure, presented on second reading, would change the city's occupational license tax payment provisions in Section 110.04(a) of the Hopkinsville Code of Ordinances. The ordinance text presented to council describes revised percentage rates and clarifies exemptions for individuals and businesses with low gross receipts, and rules for employees who work outside the city or spend four hours or less per week in the city.
During the roll call, five council members voted yes and five voted no. Council member Velez told the council she would abstain, saying, "I'm gonna have to abstain because this decision is is too great on my on my shoulders." With the tally tied at five each, the presiding officer stated, "Back to me, and I have to vote yes for it," and cast the deciding vote in favor. The clerk recorded the ordinance as approved following that vote.
Council members voiced differing views during the roll call but formal floor debate on amendments was not recorded in the transcript. The ordinance text sets an occupational license tax measured by percentages of wages and compensation and by a percentage of net profits for business entities, with exemptions for businesses with gross receipts at or below $25,000 and other exclusions as specified in the ordinance language.
The council did not record any amendments to the ordinance on the floor; the transcript records the vote and the presiding officer's deciding vote as the mechanism that carried the measure. The ordinance, as recorded in the meeting, takes effect July 1, 2026, per the ordinance language.
Clerk roll calls in the transcript identify council members by name during votes; the presiding officer and Council member Velez provided the decisive statements reported above. The council did not record a subsequent formal reconsideration during the meeting.
