Lawrence County will Vote on 12.5 Cent Tax on Property Owners

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA — Lawrence County Clerk Chris Jobe confirmed on Tuesday that the signatures on the petitions demanding a public vote on the Lawrence County School Boards decision to add a 12.5 cent tax raise on property owners would qualify with more than 705 necessary signatures.

“I think there were like 1,400 signed and we’ve counted over 1,000,” Jobe said. “I will be certifying it today. It will qualify. They only required 705 and there are more than that. It will be up to the board whether they have a special election or whether they just wait and let it go on the ballot in November.”

Jobe explained that the law has changed on special elections and that if the Lawrence County Board of Education wants to hold a special election, it would be up to them to pay for it.

“I don’t know exactly, but it could cost around $30,000 to do a special election,” Jobe said. “They would also have to have it within 35-45 days of my certifying it. It would have to be held on a Tuesday and it would have to be July 11.”

Jobe also explained that the deadline for candidates to file is June 6, and that of the two newly appointed city council members, Keith Chaffin and Coty Roe, currently only Chaffin has signed up to run for council.

“It makes a difference since the others resigned early. Normally, they would just fill the unexpired term, but they resigned early, so they have to sign up to run,” Jobe explained. “Susie Rice hasn’t signed up to run yet. She was appointed to the Board of Education when Heath Preston resigned, so she needs to sign up, and they have to do it before June 6.”