News Summary
The Logan County School Board has approved a proposal to place a construction Nickel Tax on the November ballot. This tax aims to address overcrowding and improve facilities at Auburn Elementary, which has seen significant enrollment growth. If passed, it could generate over one million dollars annually for necessary construction and maintenance. School officials emphasize the need for adequate infrastructure as outdated facilities hinder renovations and expansion plans.
Auburn, Kentucky – The Logan County School Board has approved a proposal to place a construction Nickel Tax on the ballot for November 2026. This decision, made during a board meeting on August 26, 2025, is aimed at funding necessary operations and improvements at Auburn Elementary School, which has become increasingly strained due to a rising student population.
The proposed Nickel Tax seeks to address the increasing enrollment at the school, which has seen an annual growth of approximately 30 students over the last four years, as reported by Superintendent Dan Costellow. Current efforts to redistrict students have provided some help, but they have not been enough to manage the ongoing growth effectively.
The Nickel Tax will represent more than a 4% increase from last year’s tax, which had been previously recalled following pushback from community members. A petition filed by residents challenging the prior tax resulted in enough signatures to mandate a public vote on the new proposal.
Superintendent Costellow has stressed the critical need for adequate facilities to ensure both the safety of students and their learning opportunities. If the proposed tax fails to pass, the district may face the necessity of redistricting students to prevent overcrowding at Auburn Elementary.
The new construction Nickel Tax is anticipated to generate over one million dollars annually for the school system. Under current regulations, each school district in Kentucky is allowed to impose one Nickel Tax, which is specifically designated for funding maintenance, repairs, and construction related to schools.
Logan County’s current school district tax rates remain among the lowest in Kentucky, ranking in the bottom 12% of districts across the state. If approved, the new tax rate is expected to increase to approximately 52.2 cents, which would elevate the district’s ranking from 151 to 130 out of 171 districts in Kentucky.
Auburn Elementary’s physical infrastructure is aging, with some parts of the building dating back to 1958, a factor that is severely limiting renovation options. To accommodate the predicted growth, plans for a new school facility will be developed on a 30-acre property located just outside Auburn.
The timeline for completing the new Auburn Elementary School is projected to be within three years. In contrast, without the Nickel Tax, the construction process could extend to as long as ten years. Costellow has expressed confidence that better communication with the community can help shift current opposition towards support for the tax proposal.
In summary, the Logan County School Board is moving forward with plans for a Nickel Tax to be voted on in November 2026, aimed at constructing a new facility for Auburn Elementary to meet the growing needs of its student population. The decision comes at a time when the district is grappling with outdated infrastructure and increasing enrollment figures, necessitating a strategic approach to funding that can support long-term educational objectives.
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Additional Resources
- WBKO: Logan County Schools Vote on Construction Nickel Tax
- Wikipedia: Nickel Tax
- Franklin Favorite: Another Relevant News Article
- Google Search: Logan County Schools Nickel Tax
- News Channel Nebraska: Logan County Encourages Extension of Sales Tax
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Finance
- WBKO: New Logan County Nickel Tax Added to Fund Area Schools
- Google News: Logan County Schools
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