The Henderson County Board of Education unanimously approved the property tax rate for the 2026–2027 school year during its meeting Monday evening. The approved rate is 68.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation on both real and personal property.
School officials said the approved rate will generate additional revenue to support Henderson County Schools’ mission of providing extraordinary educational opportunities for every student and continuing the district’s pursuit of excellence.
“Our students and the future of Henderson County are worth the investment,” said Superintendent Dr. Bob Lawson in a news release. “We are committed to continuing the tradition of excellence our community has built while investing in the opportunities, resources, and environments our students need to thrive. I greatly appreciate our board members for working together and always keeping students and staff at the center of their decision-making.”
Investing in School Safety
The safety of students and staff remains one of Henderson County Schools’ top priorities. The district is proud to have a School Resource Officer at every school and continues to evaluate additional ways to enhance school safety. Henderson County Schools utilize multiple security measures, including alert badges, weapons detection systems, security cameras, and safety and security window films.
Investing in Early Childhood Education
Henderson County Schools is expanding access to preschool by providing opportunities in four county schools, while continuing to offer preschool at Thelma B. Johnson Early Learning Center. The district has also expanded childcare opportunities at county schools, helping provide families with additional childcare options.
Investing in Instruction
Henderson County Schools continues to invest in high-quality instruction and resources that support student achievement. A new mathematics curriculum for grades K–8 is planned for purchase this year, followed by a new K–5 reading curriculum within the next two years.
Investing in Character Education
Character education has been identified as a priority by community and industry leaders. The district continues to invest in CharacterStrong, a research-backed program that combines social-emotional learning and character education for students from Pre-K through high school.
Investing in Facilities
Many Henderson County school buildings have served generations of students. As these buildings age, they require significant investment to maintain safe, modern, and effective learning environments. The district is currently addressing critical facility needs through projects such as the renovation of East Heights Elementary School and the HVAC project at South Middle School.
The General Fund tax levied in fiscal year 2026 was 68.2 cents on real property and 68.2 cents on personal property which produced revenue of $25,187,498.40. The proposed General Fund tax rate of 68.3 cents on real property and 68.3 cents on personal property is expected to produce $26,546,748.14. Of this amount, $5,329,149.12 is from new and personal property. The compensating tax rate for 2027 is 65.7 cents for real property and 67.9 cents for personal property and is expected to produce $25,693,042.77.
The general areas to which revenue of $1,359,250 above 2026 revenue is to be allocated as follows: Instruction $1,100,000, building fund $100,500, technology $25,000, transportation $35,000, maintenance of plant $71,750, and tax collection fees $27,000.
In reference to KRS 160.470 and Section 73 of House Bill 757, no portion of the proposed tax rate, if adopted, would be subject to recall.
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