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Recall Petition Targets Nickel Tax by Daviess County Schools

A petition is circulating in Daviess County that would recall a nickel tax approved by the local school board.  The nickel tax is the equivalent of 5.7 cents per $100 of assessed property. 

The tax increase would be used to renovate Apollo High School and build a new Daviess County Middle School.  Both projects have been deemed essential by the Kentucky Department of Education.

The recall effort is being spearheaded by former county commissioner Gary Boswell.

"I'm hearing that most people don't want their taxes increased for any purpose right now," Boswell told WKU Public Radio.  "Not that there's ever a good time to raise taxes, but incomes are not going up as high as taxes."Incoming Superintendent Matt Robbins says he understands the frustrations, but adds the need isn’t going away.  He says the longer the district waits to renovate and replace the schools, the more it will cost. 

"In 1997, we were able to construct elementary schools at $4 million per school," stated Robbins.  "In 2017, that same school would cost about $13 million."

Daviess County Chief Deputy Clerk Richard House says the petition must have the signatures of ten percent of those who voted in the public school district in the last presidential election.

"It was 35,033 people that voted in last year's presidential race in the Daviess County school district, so they have to go out and collect at least 3,504 signatures to have the recall to go into effect for it to go on the ballot," House explained.

Those leading the petition have until June 30 to collect the necessary signatures.  If that happens and the petition is verified by the county clerk’s office, a date would be set for a special election in the fall.

In the meantime, the school board could decide to rescind the tax.  A special election would cost the school district about $91,000.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.