Kenton County to review PILOT agreement; Cold Spring considers bond issuance

This week in NKY government meetings: Kenton County talks PILOT agreement for apartment project, while Cold Spring will discuss Industrial Revenue Bonds for a CSTC Retail project.

Keep reading to find out what happened in local government over the past week and what you need to know for this week.

What happened last week in NKY government?

Campbell County Fiscal Court approves lower tax rate for 2025

The Campbell County Fiscal Court approved a 2025 property tax rate of 15.30 cents per $100 of assessed value, a decrease from last year’s 16.50 cents. The compensating rate—set to generate the same revenue as the prior year—was calculated at 16.30 cents. The new rate is expected to generate approximately $13.25 million in gross revenue, compared to about $14.1 million under the compensating rate. Additional expected revenues include $197,687 from new real property, $835,349 from personal property, $1.1 million from motor vehicles, and $24,754 from watercraft. Real property, which includes land and permanent structures, is taxed across agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, and utility categories.

Read more about the property tax rate here.

Fort Wright reviews municipal traffic code

Fort Wright city officials are reviewing and updating their municipal traffic code for the first time in decades to eliminate outdated, redundant, or unenforced regulations. City Administrator Jill Cain Bailey said the goal is to make the code a clear index of ordinances, addressing issues such as restrictive vehicle weight limits, an obsolete parking ticket schedule, and minor rules like the unenforced ban on riding bicycles on sidewalks. Leaders also noted that current fines, such as those for parking during snow emergencies, are not strong enough to deter violations. Over the coming months, Bailey, Mayor Dave Hatter, Police Chief Jonathan Colwell, and city legal counsel John S. Brooking will meet to examine each ordinance, with Hatter emphasizing that the city generally avoids imposing unnecessary parking restrictions.

Read more about the municipal traffic code here.

Property taxes drop again for Boone County residents

Boone County residents will see a property tax reduction this year after the fiscal court unanimously voted on Aug. 19 to lower the real property tax rate from 9.2 to 8.5 cents per $100 of assessed value, meaning a $300,000 homeowner would owe $255. The county also set its personal property tax rate at 9.5 cents and motor vehicle rate at 14.2 cents. This continues a steady decline since 2014, when the real property rate was 10.5 cents. County officials, including Judge/Executive Gary Moore and Administrator Matthew Webster, said the goal is to provide tax relief without cutting services, aided by a 4.75% rise in real property values to $18.6 billion, despite a 9.5% drop in personal property values. Commissioner Jesse Brewer emphasized that the reduction allows the county to maintain funding for parks, public safety, and infrastructure, while Moore clarified that replacing property taxes with a local sales tax is constitutionally prohibited in Kentucky without voter approval.

Read more about the property tax change here.

Agreement ensures restoration of Florence sidewalks, streets during utility repairs

Florence City Administrator Joshua Hunt briefed the city council on a proposed electric franchise agreement that would establish rules for how Duke Energy and Owen Electric Cooperative operate within city rights-of-way, ensuring utilities restore sidewalks or streets after work is completed. Hunt highlighted the challenges of limited rights-of-way, where overlapping water, sewer, and electric lines complicate upgrades and often force costly solutions, such as burying water mains beneath streets. The agreement would also give Florence the authority to impose franchise fees on utilities—fees typically passed on to customers with public service commission approval—though the city emphasized it currently does not have such a fee and remains committed to keeping costs low for residents. The next step involves the council considering an ordinance to publish a nonexclusive franchise agreement and solicit bids.

Read more about the sidewalks and utility repairs here.

Motorized scooter safety: Erlanger considers new guidelines

At its recent meeting, the Erlanger City Council discussed motorized scooter use after Councilmember Jennifer Jasper-Lucas raised resident and business concerns about unsafe riding, such as lack of helmets and distracted operation. While the city does not plan to ban scooters or pass restrictive legislation, officials aim to develop safety guidelines and community education, potentially led by the soon-to-be-hired community engagement coordinator. The initiative would highlight existing Kentucky regulations, which allow riders over 16 to operate scooters if they follow traffic laws, including using lights at night and parking safely. Jasper-Lucas also noted that Erlanger’s skateboard policy, which restricts use in certain areas, may need revisiting alongside the scooter discussion.

Read more about the new guidelines here.

Covington to vote on financing for garage-top apartments

The Covington Board of Commissioners will vote next week on financing and tax abatements for Bavarian Flats, a 125-unit apartment complex planned atop the new Kenton County Government Center parking garage tied to the Brent Spence Corridor project. The $27.5 million development, led by Merus and Urban Sites, would be funded through up to $20 million in industrial revenue bonds (IRBs) and a 20-year payment in lieu of tax (PILOT) agreement. Under the proposal, the developer would pay 30% of property taxes for the first decade, 50% for the next five years, and 80% for the final five. The project is expected to create 212 jobs, generate $9.5 million in payroll tax, and charge market-rate rents ranging from about $1,000 for studios to $2,000 for two-bedrooms. While IRBs give developers tax incentives by lowering upfront costs, the city still secures revenue from the PILOT. Construction will begin once the garage is complete, with the apartments slated for completion by February 2027.

Read more about the financing here.

Erlanger proposes lowering property taxes for 11th year

Erlanger is set to lower its property taxes for the 11th consecutive year, with city council recommending new rates of $0.244 per $100 of valuation for real property and $0.178 for tangible property, down from the current $0.247 and $0.198, respectively. The change comes as real property values rose 1.4% to $1.89 billion and tangible property values jumped 11.5% to $1.87 million from 2024. Mayor Jessica Fette noted the new rates would generate more than $277,000 above the city’s budgeted $4.73 million in property tax revenue for fiscal year 2026. If approved, the lower rates would take effect in October, with a first reading scheduled for Aug. 26 and a final vote on Sept. 2.

Read more about the property tax rate here.

Popular Florence senior center gets new funding

The Florence City Council unanimously approved a one-year contract with the Kenton County Fiscal Court to provide $33,250 in funding for the Deanna and Hugh Skees Senior Activity Center, marking the first time Kenton County has directly supported the facility since its opening in 2012. The center, operated by the R.C. Durr YMCA, serves about 135 Kenton County residents who participate in fitness, social, and community programs, with contributions calculated based on resident attendance. Funding also comes from Boone and Campbell counties, as well as $40,000 annually from the Northern Kentucky Area Development District. Built with federal Community Development Block Grant money, the center must remain open to non-Florence residents, and city leaders praised it as a regional model for senior services, noting its role in drawing participation away from other facilities like the Elsmere-Erlanger senior center.

Read more about the senior center funding here.

Union breaks ground on new town square

The City of Union broke ground Aug. 19 on its long-planned Union Town Square, a $13 million project designed as a central gathering place and community hub. Located on 22 acres along Brilliance Avenue, the development will include a new city hall, a 16-acre park with a splash pad, playgrounds, a performance venue, gardens, and a lake with a great lawn for events. Planned in three phases—city building, infrastructure, and park buildout—the project incorporates community input gathered through surveys and public meetings since 2023. Funded by bonds supported by the city’s payroll tax, the square will feature modern, glass-filled municipal offices and multi-use park amenities to serve recreation, entertainment, and civic functions. Construction, led by Spaulding Construction with designs from Summit Architects and MKSK, is expected to take about 18 months.

Read more about the groundbreaking here.

$7.5M in upgrades coming to Newport’s General James Taylor Park

Newport is moving forward with a $7.5 million state-funded project to revamp General James Taylor Park and the adjacent Festival Park. Partnering with Corporex as contractor, Newport officials emphasized that the city retains full control over design and spending, with strict procurement laws and oversight in place and a do-not-exceed clause capping costs at $7.5 million. The project, shaped through months of input from residents, business owners, and community groups, aims to deliver a “world-class park” while coordinating with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on access issues tied to the nearby 4th Street Bridge. City leaders also pledged to handle challenges such as the humane relocation of wild cats in the park.

Read more about the park upgrades here.

What’s happening in NKY government this week?

Cold Spring City Council: Monday, Aug 25

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at 5694 E. Alexandria Pike.

What you need to know: The city is authorizing the issuance of two sets of Industrial Building Revenue Bonds to help CSTC Retail LLC finance improvements to an industrial facility. “Series 2025A Bonds” up to $35 million and “Series 2025B Bonds” up to $5 million.

The agenda can be found here.

Crescent Springs City Council: Monday, Aug 25

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 739 Buttermilk Pike.

The agenda can be found here when it is published.

Park Hills City Council: Monday, Aug 25    

The meeting start time is to be determined at 1106 Amsterdam Road.

The agenda can be found here when it is published.

Kenton County Fiscal Court: Tuesday, Aug 26    

The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Government Center, 1840 Simon Kenton Way, in Covington.

What you need to know: The county will discuss requesting approval of the Payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT agreement for the Bavarian Apartment project.

The Bavarian Apartment project is an apartment complex slated to sit atop the new Kenton County Government Center parking garage, which is being constructed in conjunction with the Brent Spence Corridor project.

Read more about the project here.

The agenda can be found here.

Covington Commission: Tuesday, Aug 26

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at 20 W. Pike St.

What you need to know: The city will revisit the Covington Business District Common Consumption Area. Mayor Ron Washington told LINK nky after the Aug. 12 meeting that the commission needed more time to consider details of the ordinance. The commission will consider the vote again at its next legislative meeting on Aug. 26.

Read more about the consumption area here.

The agenda can be found here.

Florence City Council: Tuesday, Aug 26    

The meeting starts at  6 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd.

The agenda can be found here when it is published.

Newport Board of Education: Wednesday, Aug. 27

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at 30 W 8th St.

The agenda can be found here.

Ludlow City Council Special Meeting: Thursday, Aug 28    

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Ludlow Municipal Center, at 51 Elm St.

What you need to know: A special meeting will be held to discuss and vote on a resolution authorizing Ludlow Mayor Chris Wright to “settle threatened litigation.”

A caucus meeting will follow the special meeting.

The agenda can be found here.