401 Frederica Street, B-203
Owensboro, Kentucky 42301
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Pages

1
- Budget Basics
2
- Local Tax Rate Summary
3
- Did You Know?
4
- Comparisons of Local Tax Burden
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- Differences in Services
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- Is tax fairness a problem in our community?
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- Discussion Questions
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- For More Information / To Get Involved / Share Your Views

What about fairness?

Local tax structure has many inequities

by Rodney Berry

Is tax fairness a problem in our community?
YES	NO
Those who think we have a problem may say...	Those who think we do not have a problem may say...
The numbers don’t lie. (See comparative illustration.) Clearly, there are huge disparities in our local tax system. Where one lives and works often has nothing to do with the level of public services received. We have two fine public school systems in our community, but why should residents in the city school district pay taxes that are 31 percent higher than the county school taxes? Are city schools 31 percent better?	County residents should not have to pay the higher taxes paid by city residents just because it cost more to run city government. In many areas, county residents don’t receive as many services as city residents – and that is fine with them. Many rural residents are not particularly interested in major projects (e.g., riverfront, parks) and institutions (library, RiverPark Center, museums) that are located in the city. It is only appropriate that county residents pay less. County school district residents do not have any responsibilities for students who live in other districts and should not be expected to pay more just because the city school taxes are higher.

Is tax fairness a problem in our community?

YES

Those who think we have a problem may say...

Those who think we do not have a problem may say...

The numbers don’t lie. (See comparative illustration.) Clearly, there are huge disparities in our local tax system.

Where one lives and works often has nothing to do with the level of public services received.

We have two fine public school systems in our community, but why should residents in the city school district pay taxes that are 31 percent higher than the county school taxes? Are city schools 31 percent better?

County residents should not have to pay the higher taxes paid by city residents just because it cost more to run city government.

In many areas, county residents don’t receive as many services as city residents – and that is fine with them. Many rural residents are not particularly interested in major projects (e.g., riverfront, parks) and institutions (library, RiverPark Center, museums) that are located in the city. It is only appropriate that county residents pay less.

County school district residents do not have any responsibilities for students who live in other districts and should not be expected to pay more just because the city school taxes are higher.

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