Fayette County Board of Education passes property tax increase

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Fayette County Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday night to increase property taxes to pay for school security upgrades.

The vote was 4-0.

The tax increase is 5-cents for every $100 of assessed property.  The tax is expected to raise $13.5 million in its first year.

The average property owner in Fayette County will pay an additional $88 a year.

The additional money is earmarked for a 10-point plan that includes more law enforcement officers in schools, metal detectors in every middle and high school, hiring more mental health professionals and facility enhancements to provide additional security at every school.

The new tax is a done deal unless opponents can come up with around 13,000 verified signatures in the next 45-days to put the tax increase to a county-wide vote.