This story was written by Lia Salvatierra, our new Education Reporter. Find more of Lia’s reporting here. Do you have an NKY education story? Email lsalvatierra@linknky.com.
Taxpayers within Bellevue Independent School District may see an increase in their property tax rates as the district plans to generate more local revenue.
Bellevue’s board of education voted to propose higher rates at an Aug. 5 special meeting.
Under new state rules, districts must propose and advertise rates for two weeks before the board can officially adopt them at a public hearing.
Bellevue’s proposed rates would bring in 4% more property tax revenue compared with last year, based on the state’s assessment of property values in the district.
A district’s property value assessment also affects how much money it receives from the state.
Under the state’s school funding formula, higher property values reduce state funding and lower property values increase state funding. Other factors like attendance also play into the formula and determine district’s final share of state funding.
Bellevue is opting to change the tax rate for real property, while keeping the personal property rate the same as last year.
The district is proposing to increase the real property rate to 86.7, while keeping the personal property rate at 96.1.
That translates to $867 in tax revenue for every $100,000 in real property and $961 in tax revenue for every $100,000 in personal property.
The 2025-26 rates were 84.3 on real property and 96.1 on personal property.
The board did also vote for an allowed adjustment to each proposed 2026-27 rate to account for revenue not collected last year, which effectively adds another 0.2 to the proposed rates.
Real property includes land and its associated structures and property rights.
Personal property includes items used for business or commerce including inventory, raw materials and office supplies.
Find more detailed information on how school property taxes work here.
Lia Salvatierra is a journalist with Report for America, a service program that helps boost coverage of underreported topics and areas throughout the United States. To help LINK nky continue to provide this kind of reporting, you can make a tax-deductible donation here.
