At the Christian County Clerk’s Office Monday afternoon, the group, Citizens Right To Vote On Tax Increases, officially filed the petition and signatures collected to have the Christian County School’s nickel tax increase put on a ballot. The nickel tax was recently approved by the Christian County Board of Education to increase the bond potential in order to fund the construction of two new high schools.
The group needed to collect 2,226 signatures of registered voters in the 2018 November general election. Group Manager Mark Graham told the News Edge they had collected well over the number of signatures required.
He noted the petition is about accountability and letting the people decide if they want a nickel tax increase or not.
He also said they have received some emails that revealed a group is planning to push the school board to hold a special election, which will cost taxpayers when it could be put on the November ballot.
Now that the petition has been filed, Christian County Election Coordinator Melinda Humphries said they have 30 days, until May 8th, to validate the petition and all of the signatures.
She adds it will be a lengthy process.
Christian County Public Schools’ Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill has previously stated the district needs the nickel tax because the cost to construct a new building at Hopkinsville High School is approximately $42 million with a match from the state. If the district does not get the nickel tax, she has stated the only alternative they have is to close the school which she said is not a good alternative.
