Voters to decide on Butler County property tax hike approved by school board

MORGANTOWN, Ky. (WBKO) — A property tax levy approved by the Butler County Board of Education earlier this year will now be decided by voters after a petition challenging the levy was certified as sufficient by County Clerk Sherry Johnson.

The certification, dated Dec. 17, confirms that the petition filed on Nov. 17 by Joseph Harris Henderson, James Travis McIntosh, and William Tyler Overstreet met the requirements outlined in Kentucky law.

Kentucky Revised Statute 132.017 allows citizens to challenge local tax levies, such as those approved by school boards, by submitting a petition with a required number of voter signatures.

Once certified by the county clerk, the petition forces the levy question to be placed on a public ballot, either during a general election or a special election at the taxing authority’s expense.

The Butler County Board of Education approved the tax levy on Oct. 1, 2025, raising the rate on personal and real property from 42.1 cents to 48.4 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to Butler County Schools CFO, Travis Johnson. The new rate is expected to take effect on 2026 tax bills.

Unless the Board of Education calls for a special election, the levy question will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election ballot. Should the board choose a special election instead, the cost would fall to the Board of Education.