Following a thorough explanation from Trigg County Schools Chief Financial Officer Holly Greene, Board of Education members adopted new proposed tax rates for 2025-26 — reflecting on a slight decrease.
While utility, motor vehicle and personal property will all remain the same — respectively at 3%, 46 cents and 54.9 cents — real property will dip slightly from 49.9 cents per $100 of assessed value, to 49.8 cents per $100 of assessed value.
For the last fiscal year, Greene said the Kentucky Department of Education reported $7,136,889.75 in actual collections and a 95% collections rate.
After a 30-cent effort from the district, however, Trigg County Schools received $2,612,952.75. Expectations for Fiscal Year 2026, she said, are roughly $2.6 million in projected net collections — after paying more than $4.7 million out for the 30-cent effort.
Greene and Board Attorney Jack Lackey Jr. brought forth a little more clarity on what a lower tax rate actually means for a public school in Kentucky.
Projected real estate values for the next 12 months in Trigg County are expected to surpass $1.3 billion, while personal property is expected to eclipse $100 million.
In other school news:
+ Two smaller change orders were approved for ongoing construction in the district. Valued at more than $8,500, a new switch panel is coming for the Trigg County High School Gymnasium. And valued at more than $7,300, a fire hydrant near the middle school is being relocated, following the discovery of a water line near a loading dock that was previously unmarked. This hydrant will be moved closer to the co-curricular building.
+ Sherman Carter Barnhart Architect Chris Jones took board members for a brief tour of the gymnasium’s renovation after the meeting, after showcasing several cosmetic elements that will somewhat match some of the CTE Building’s look. Jones said to expect black, white, gray and flecks of gold to serve as the major scheme, with renovations still on track to finish just as Thanksgiving and Christmas Break approach.
+ School board members unanimously approved the resignations of District 1’s Charlene Sheehan and District 3’s Clara-Beth Hyde, officially opening two positions with terms expiring at the end of 2026.
From this point forward:
*The board has 60 days to fill the vacancy, which began August 14. The KDE cannot extend this appointment period.
*The vacancies must be advertised for two weeks on the district website and in the county’s largest newspaper before selection, with applications to be delivered back to the Board of Education by visit or mail.
*If no appointment is made in the two months ahead, the state Commissioner of Education fills the seats.
*The board will then review eligible candidates in a later closed session, before selecting an interested District 1 candidate and an interested District 3 representative by vote, which does not include the superintendent.
*Appointees then assume duties after being sworn in and must take the oath within 30 days or be ineligible for two years.
*Declining the appointment (before or after being sworn in) creates a new vacancy.
*Challenges to an appointee’s qualifications are handled by the state’s Attorney General, not the KDE.
Superintendent Dr. Rex Booth noted he expects to have solutions by September.
+ “Meet the Wildcats” is scheduled for 6 PM Friday, with gates at Perdue Field opening at 5 PM.
+ Following recent successful professional development with John Antonetti, Booth said Trigg County Schools officials will be working through a district-wide book study of his works. Antonetti is often referred to as a “teacher’s teacher.”
+ According to Booth and Director of Student Services and Personnel Laura James, two new teaching positions have been added in the last week: one for intermediate and one for middle. From year-to-year, enrollment is currently up significantly: 1,871 students to 1,895 students.
