Florence homeowners will get a chance to weigh in on the city's 2026 property tax rates at a public hearing Aug. 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd.
The proposed real property rate is $0.187 per $100 of assessed value, unchanged from 2025. But because rising property assessments have pushed the state-calculated compensating rate down to $0.173, the city's rate now exceeds it by $0.014 per $100. Under Kentucky Revised Statute 132.027, that gap requires a public hearing before the Florence City Council can adopt the rate.
The difference is not trivial on paper: the proposed rate is projected to generate roughly $7.04 million in revenue, about $527,000 more than the $6.51 million the compensating rate would produce. City officials say that additional revenue will fund police and public safety, public works and maintenance, administrative operations and capital improvement projects, according to the city's public notice published by the NKY Tribune.
The proposed personal property tax rate is $0.226 per $100, down from $0.239 in 2025, and is expected to generate about $1.9 million.
Combined bill still projected lower than 2025
Despite the real property rate exceeding the compensating threshold, the city is simultaneously proposing a reduction in the Special Assessment for Hazardous Employees Retirement. If the council approves both measures after the hearing, the combined tax rate Florence property owners pay would be lower than what they paid in 2025.
The city has not disclosed the specific new Special Assessment figure. In 2025, that rate was $0.044 per $100 of assessed value, itself a reduction from $0.055 the prior year.
At the council's Sept. 23, 2025 meeting, Finance Director Jason Lewis said the 2025 Special Assessment cut would "save the average Florence taxpayer about $25 in real estate taxes." Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon confirmed at that same meeting that it marked the second consecutive year of tax reductions, the first back-to-back cuts since 2003-2004.
As we reported Aug. 4, the city announced the hearing date but had not yet released the specific rate figures.
How to participate
The Florence City Council is expected to vote on the 2026 rates following the Aug. 18 hearing. Residents who want to comment but need special accommodations should contact the Florence City Clerk's Office at 859-647-8177 before the meeting.
