Setting Property Tax Levy – A Reduction in the City’s Rate
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to set the City’s real estate and personal property tax rates for fiscal year 2027. This ordinance also sets the rate for the Paducah Junior College, which will remain the same as last year at $0.014 per $100 of assessed value (AV).
Regarding the City’s real estate tax levy, the proposed rate is $0.253 per $100 AV, which is lower than the current rate of $0.271 per $100 AV. This proposed rate is the compensating rate, which is the rate that would keep the City’s revenue at approximately the same amount as the previous year. This is the lowest proposed rate since 2013.
Finance Director Audra Kyle explained that increased property assessments led to the decrease in the tax rate. Kyle added that the McCracken County PVA assesses properties with 4260 properties seeing a change in assessment over the past year resulting in an increase of $172 million in property values. With this new tax rate, approximately 70 percent of city property owners will see a decrease in their City property tax.
Kyle explained that for a home valued at $200,000 that has not been reassessed in the past year, the City’s portion of the property tax bill will be $506. For the previous year, the City’s portion of the bill was $542.
Amending Paducah Code of Ordinances for the Creation of the Department of Community Development
The Paducah Board of Commissioners introduced an ordinance to amend several chapters of the Paducah Code of Ordinances to create the Department of Community Development which will include two divisions: Planning and Building. The ordinance also updates references throughout the Code by amending Chapters 2, 18, 34, 42, 46, 54, 82, 102, 106, and 126.
Mayor George Bray announced at the previous meeting that this departmental reorganization creates a new, comprehensive department, the Department of Community Development, focused on development-related functions. The new department combines the current Planning Department with permitting, code enforcement, rental occupancy, and building and electrical inspection services, which are currently provided through the Fire Prevention Division. The change will bring most development-related services together in one department, which will eventually be located on the first floor of City Hall, making it easier for residents and businesses to access these services.
Also at this meeting, the Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an employment agreement for Carol Gault to serve as the Director of Community Development effective September 17.
Solid Waste Services – Transfer Station Contract
The Paducah Board of Commissioner approved a five-year agreement, with an option for an additional five-year term, with Northwest Tennessee Disposal Corporation, a subsidiary of Republic Services, to receive, transfer, transport, and dispose of the City of Paducah’s municipal solid waste.
This agreement does not affect the City’s current solid waste collection services. City crews will continue to collect solid waste as they do now. Under this new agreement, City crews will take the solid waste to the Republic Services Transfer Station at 829 Burnett Street instead of the Green for Life (GFL) Transfer Station on State Street. From there, the solid waste will be transferred to a disposal facility in Union City, Tennessee.
This agreement also includes recycling collection and a citizen drop-off service for recyclables at 829 Burnett Street. The recycling drop-off service will begin September 28 and will be available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. until noon. The facility is closed on Sundays and on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
The list of accepted recyclable materials will remain unchanged. Republic Services Manager of Municipal and Government Affairs Todd Chamberlain attended the meeting to discuss recycling trends and opportunities. Chamberlain explained that the City’s recyclables will be hauled to a facility in Memphis, Tennessee.
As part of the agreement, Republic Services will contribute $20,000 per year to help fund the annual Spring Clean Up Day.
Additional Meeting Information
- Mayor George Bray proclaimed September as City Government Month in Paducah and encouraged local officials, employees, and schools to educate students about their city government and to engage them in city services.
- Municipal Orders approved for the updated Position and Pay Schedule and Job Grade Schedule for city positions.
- Municipal Order approved (with Commissioner Buz Smith voting no) authorizing an agreement with Paducah Water for a water main replacement project to service the Paducah Fire Department’s new training facility location.
- Municipal Order approved an agreement with Kentucky Emergency Management regarding the Kentucky Urban Search and Rescue Program.
- Municipal Order approved (with Commissioner Buz Smith voting no) for a contract for services between the City of Paducah and Paducah Junior College, Inc. with the City providing $100,000 for the Community Scholarship Program.
- Municipal Order approved authorizing the renewal of the software contract with Tyler Technologies.
- Municipal Order approved for the Memorandum of Agreement between the City and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for HB501 Grant Pool funding. The City will be receiving $100,000 toward the South 21st Street rehabilitation project. This project will rehabilitate 0.5 miles of South 21st from Kentucky Avenue to Ohio Street.
- Municipal Orders approved for agreements for the following organizations to lease city-owned property: Paducah Film Society and River Heritage Museum.
- Motion approved to postpone the Seaman’s Church lease agreement agenda item until the October 2 Called Commission Meeting.
- Municipal Order approved for a development agreement with Salem Avenue, LLC, that includes the sale of six city-owned surplus properties on Salem Avenue and Hampton Avenue. The developer is planning to combine the parcels with adjacent parcels for the development of 15 new single-family homes priced at $250,000 or less. The first home has been constructed with a buyer working through the closing process.
- Ordinance introduced for a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Paducah and Chapman Property Development, LLC. This is a residential infill agreement to reimburse costs for eligible infrastructure related to the construction of Melody Lane, a new street that will provide access to a new apartment complex under construction off Nolan Drive. The development is for eight apartment buildings with four units in each building.
- Please note that the regularly scheduled Paducah Board of Commissioners meeting for September 22 will be cancelled due to the D.C. Fly-in event organized by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. The next meeting will be a called meeting on October 2.
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