Dayton Independent Schools adopts new tax rates, increasing revenue

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.

Dayton Independent School District taxpayers will see changes to their property tax bills as the district generates 4% more tax revenue than last year.

Dayton’s board of education voted to adopt new rates at an Aug. 26 regular meeting.

Under new state rules, the district had to propose and advertise rates for two weeks before the board could officially adopt them.

The district opted to increase the real property rate to 91.5 while reducing the personal property rate to 112.8. That translates to $915 in revenue for every $100,000 in real property and 1,128 for every $100,000 in personal property. 

The 2025-26 rates were 89.3 on real property and 117 on personal property. 

The new rates are expected to produce more than $262,000 in additional revenue compared with last year, based on the state’s assessment of property values in the district.

According to a public notice from the district, the biggest shares of that additional revenue will go toward instruction and maintaining infrastructure. 

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 the district’s final share of state funding.

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.

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