During Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendrick’s budget address for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Friday morning, he proposed a property tax increase and strategies to close the deficit which includes cuts within departments and agencies.
Hendrick’s says they will recommend taking a 4% property tax rate increase as allowed by the state, but he doesn’t know at this time how the rates will be impacted.
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The strategies to close the deficit includes a no cost of living increase for employees and cuts to departments and agencies.
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Hendricks says the general fund for 2019-2020 of more than $37.4 million increased by about $942,000 over this fiscal year.
Hendricks also says the increase in employer pension cost will get worse for the city if it’s not dealt with on the state level. He notes the cumulative increase from the base year is a new expense for the city that comes off the top of the 2019-20 budget, which is nearly $500,000. He notes that will increase to more than $3.3 million over the next four years.
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The city’s Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget will be taken up by Hopkinsville City Council at multiple Committee of the Whole meetings scheduled for 6:00 Thursday night, May 9 and May 23rd, if needed.
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