Boone County homeowners will get their first look at proposed 2026-27 school property tax rates at the board's Aug. 13 meeting, one week before the first day of school.
The Boone County Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at 99 Center St. in Florence. The main agenda item: a tax presentation with proposed rates for the coming school year, according to the board's posted agenda.
The specific rates had not been released as of Aug. 12. The board's 2025-26 rates, according to its September 2025 meeting agenda, were 65.5 cents per $100 of assessed value on real estate and tangible property, and 49.7 cents per $100 on motor vehicles. At that rate, the owner of a home assessed at $300,000 pays $1,965 annually in school property taxes.
Kentucky law gives boards three options each year: a compensating rate that collects the same total revenue as the prior year, a rate generating up to 4% more revenue, or a rate above the 4% threshold that opens the door for a voter recall petition within 45 days of adoption.
New state law adds a step
This year's process looks different. Under a Kentucky law passed this spring, school boards can no longer adopt tax rates in a single meeting. Instead, they must first propose rates, publish them for two weeks and then hold a separate public hearing before formal adoption, as LINK nky reported Aug. 11.
That means Thursday's action is a proposal, not a final decision.
A public hearing date has not been announced but must follow at least two weeks later under the new law. All Northern Kentucky school districts are navigating the same two-step timeline. Campbell County, Bellevue, Fort Thomas and Ludlow have already proposed their rates; Boone County is among those scheduled to do so this week.
Building projects also on the table
Beyond taxes, the board's consent agenda includes several facility items for the district's 20,918 students (as of 2024-25) across 26 schools:
- Bidding documents for Cooper High School and Ryle High School fieldhouse additions and renovations
- Closeout of the Boone County High School gym roof project
- Emergency sanitary-storm sewer work at Conner Middle School
- A $172,288 change order for the Boone County High School fieldhouse
The agenda also includes a five-year contract for Amplify Desmos Math at the Ignite Institute and a second reading of annual board policy updates.
How to weigh in
Board chair Jesse Parks will preside over the five-member board, which also includes Carolyn Hankins Wolfe, Julie Maddox, Cindy Young and Karen Byrd.
Residents can address the board during the Audience of Citizens segment. Speakers are limited to two minutes. The meeting is also streamed live on YouTube.
The public hearing on final tax-rate adoption has not yet been scheduled. Under the new law, it cannot occur sooner than two weeks after Thursday's proposal. The first day of school for Boone County's 2026-27 year is Aug. 19.
