Fiscal court approves first reading to set property tax rate at 12.2¢ per $100

Barren County Fiscal Court approved on first reading an ordinance to set the county's property tax rate at 12.2¢ per $100 assessed valuation, the presiding official said, putting the measure on track for a second reading at a scheduled Friday meeting.

The motion to adopt Ordinance "6 99" on first reading was made by Brad Gross and seconded; the court then conducted a roll-call vote. Jeff Fox, Tim Durham, Tim Coomer and Brad Gross voted yes, producing a recorded 4–0 tally. Two magistrates — Derek Pedego and Marty Kinsello — were recorded absent during the action.

Court members described 12.2¢ as the compensating rate the county could set while still meeting incoming bills. As the presiding official put it during discussion, "We are basically going to drop this down even further to 12.2 on the tax rate for property tax... that is where we can that's the furthest we can drop it down to is 12.2 to be able to for the county to be able to continue to pay the bills that we have incoming." The transcript records this explanation during the motion debate.

The ordinance was introduced as "Ordinance 6 99" on the transcript and placed on first reading. The court scheduled a reconvened session for a second reading on Friday at 9:30 a.m.; officials said the only item planned for that meeting was the second reading of the ordinance. The court also said it would offer a Zoom option to help ensure a quorum for the Friday session.

No amendments to the ordinance were recorded in the meeting transcript, and no alternate rate was proposed during the discussion. The motion passed on a roll-call vote and will return for the court's second reading and final action.