LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As classes resume for JCPS students, school officials are requesting a property tax increase to fund operations.
"Well the major part of our funding is local funding, and we know that state funding and federal funding has been decreasing. So local funding is incredibly important to us."
We spoke with JCPS Board Chairman Diane Porter about the proposed increase early Tuesday. She says the money would be put to good use.
"Any money that comes to the district, we are trying to put more dollars to our local schools this year as we think in terms of middle school assistant principals, elementary school assistant principals," Porter said. "So what we're trying to do is put the dollars where the students are -- in class -- to increase our achievement."
Porter says the loss of stimulus funds and other federal funding has created the need for more local funding.
"Stimulus dollars have gone away -- and other dollars -- just because of the economy," Porter said. "So we want to make sure we are not losing services to our students at any times."
The maximum property tax increase JCPS can request is 3.4 percent. Porter says the board may decide to approve all or part of that request.
A 3.4 percent increase would mean a person with a $100,000 home would pay about $23 more each year. The hike would generate another $17 million.
The school board is set to vote on the increase on Aug. 27.
Copyright 2012 WDRB News. All Rights Reserved.
