Petition Certifies Sufficient Support for School Tax Measure
A petition to put the so-called "nickel" school tax before county voters has been certified as sufficient by Logan County Clerk Stacy Watkins.
Details of the Petition and Its Background
The petition contests a tax approved by the Logan County Board of Education on June 6. It was filed by John Dawson, Daniel Kemp, Lonnie Epley, Jon Keith Smith and John Walpole.
Comments from the Petitioners
When contacted for comment, petitioner John Dawson said he was unsure what to add about the effort.
Purpose of the Tax
The school board unanimously adopted the tax to address building needs, citing overcrowding at Auburn Elementary and aging systems—including HVAC units and roofs—at other schools. Revenue from the levy is limited to capital projects like new construction, major renovations and debt service and may not be used for salaries or routine operating costs.
Legal Aspects and Signature Verification
Under Kentucky law, the petition needed signatures from 1,043 registered voters. Petitioners submitted 1,756 names, and after accounting for ineligible entries—such as...