Florence homeowners will get their chance to weigh in on what they'll pay in property taxes next year.

City Clerk Melissa Kramer posted a notice on the city's website Aug. 4 announcing a public hearing on proposed 2026 real and personal property tax rates. The hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Council Chambers at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd. All residents and stakeholders are invited to attend and share feedback before the council sets final rates.

The specific rates to be proposed for 2026 have not yet been published. Under Kentucky law, the rates advertised ahead of the hearing represent the maximum the city is permitted to levy. The council can adopt rates at or below those maximums. When announcing last year's hearing, Mayor Julie Aubuchon told council members at the Aug. 26, 2025 business meeting that "the published rates were the maximum rates permitted by Kentucky law and city council would be able to set the rates below the maximum, which they usually do."

Two consecutive years of tax cuts

The hearing comes after Florence cut property taxes in back-to-back years for the first time since 2003–2004. The current combined real property rate sits at $2.31 per $1,000 of assessed value, down from the real property rate of $2.38 in 2024 and $2.46 in 2023. The combined personal property rate stands at $2.38 per $1,000.

Finance Director Jason Lewis explained at the Sept. 23, 2025 council meeting that the most recent reduction came from lowering the special assessment for hazardous employee retirement from $0.055 to $0.044 per $100 of assessed value. He said the change saved the average Florence taxpayer about $25 in real estate taxes.

The city's adopted FY2026–27 General Fund budget, passed June 16, projects $53.6 million in revenues and $54.2 million in expenditures. Mayor Aubuchon noted in her June 9 State of the City address that the General Fund projects 2.4% revenue growth despite the consecutive property tax cuts and a reduction in the insurance premium tax.

What comes next

After the Aug. 18 hearing, the council is expected to vote on a final tax ordinance at a subsequent business meeting. In the 2025 cycle, the council voted on Sept. 23, roughly three weeks after the public hearing. A final vote date for the 2026 rates has not been announced.

Residents who need special accommodations to participate may contact Kramer at 859-647-8177.