Jefferson County Public Schools Recommends No Tax Hike

Jefferson County Public Schools administrators are recommending no property tax rate increase for the 2015-16 fiscal year, the school district announced Friday.

If the Jefferson County Board of Education accepts the recommendation, the rate of 71 cents per $100 of assessed value in effect since the2013-14 school yearwould stay the same.

JCPS will host a public hearing on the tax rate recommendation at 5 p.m. on Aug. 20 at the VanHoose Education Center on Newburg Road.

In a news release, Superintendent Donna Hargens said JCPS would be able to balance its budget and provide students "quality instructional programs and resources" with the current rate.

JCPS also noted some of the changes expected for the 2015-16 academic year, which begins on Wednesday:
Next week, the district will open Alex R. Kennedy Elementary in Jeffersontown along with two K-8 Schools of Innovation at Maupin Elementary and Atkinson Academy. A new Early Childhood center in Smoketown will help more children receive early instruction to prepare them for success in kindergarten. This year, all JCPS employees also received at least a 2 percent raise, which was mandated by the state.