Logan County nickel tax on November ballot

LOGAN COUNTY, Ky. — Logan County voters will decide in November whether to approve a proposed 5.9-cent “nickel tax” to help fund school construction, repairs, renovations and maintenance.

The Logan County Board of Education approved the ballot language for the proposed levy during a special called meeting in August.

The measure would levy 5.9 cents for every $100 of assessed value of real and personal property.

According to Logan County Schools, the term “nickel tax” comes from the Kentucky Department of Education and refers to a five-cent levy for school construction. The actual rate for Logan County would be 5.9 cents.

If approved, the district estimates the levy would generate about $1.12 million in additional local revenue each year.

Because the board approved the levy in 2025, the district also expects to qualify for state equalization funding. Logan County Schools estimates that would provide about $920,000 more each year, bringing the total potential funding to more than $2 million annually.

The money would be restricted to school facility projects, including construction, repairs, renovations and maintenance.

The district has identified about $61.3 million in facility needs through 2030.

More than half of that total is associated with Auburn School, where the district says enrollment has grown beyond the building’s listed capacity.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Costellow said the current Auburn building has reached the point where it cannot be renovated or expanded.

“Auburn is at the point where the Department of Education says you can’t build on to it, you can’t renovate, you can’t do anything with it except start over,” Costellow said.

The district says Auburn had 764 students in 2025, compared with a listed capacity of 712.

School officials say continued enrollment growth could eventually require countywide redistricting if additional facilities are not built.

Costellow said that could mean students being moved to different schools and longer travel times for some families.

The district estimates about 56% of Logan County homeowners would pay $1 or less per week under the proposed levy, based on current property assessments.

For example, the district estimates a property with a PVA-assessed value of $100,000 would see an increase of about $59 per year, or $4.92 per month.

The proposed levy would apply to real and personal property but not vehicles.

The district has held public forums to discuss the proposal with residents. The final scheduled forum is Thursday, Sept. 24, at Chandlers School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Costellow said the district’s goal is to provide voters with information before they make their decision.

“We know that people typically vote for one of two reasons. Either they’re agitated or they’re educated,” Costellow said. “Our job is not to tell you to vote for or against it. It’s to educate you and help you make that decision yourself.”

The proposed nickel tax will appear on the November general election ballot.