Most Lawrence County tax rates drop for 2021

By Lilly Adkins

BSN Associate Editor

LOUISA — The Lawrence County Fiscal Court held a special meeting on Sept. 1 and approved tax rates set by individual taxing districts.

The state rate is 11.90 cents for real estate, which is down from 12.20 cents in 2020.; Lawrence County’s rate is 16.30 cents for real estate, down from 16.40 cents, and 16.60 cents for tangible property, which is down from 16.80 cents in 2020.

The Lawrence County school tax rate is 57.50 cents for real estate, which is down from 58 cents, and 58.70 cents for tangible property, which is down from 59.60 cents. The Lawrence County Public Library’s tax rate is 13.20 cents for real estate and tangible property, which is down from 14.30 cents for real estate and 14.70 cents for tangible property in 2020. The Lawrence County Health District’s rate remained the same as last year at 6 cents for real estate and tangible property. The Lawrence County Extension Agency rate is 8.10 cents for real estate, which is up from the 7.57 cents in 2020, and 11.59 cents for tangible property, which is up from 10.91 in 2020.

The Lawrence County Soil Conservation’s tax rate remained the same at 2.40 for real estate, the Louisa Area Fire & Rescue’s tax rate remained the same at 3 cents for real estate and the Lawrence County Fire Protection is 3 cents per acre, the same as in 2020.

Lawrence County Clerk Chris Jobe also provided a schedule of collection dates for the 2021 bills.

Property owners who pay their tax bills between Oct. 1 and Nov. 1 will receive a 2 percent discount, while those who pay from Nov. 2 through Dec. 31 will pay the face value. For those who pay Jan. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2022, there will be a 5 percent penalty assessed. For those who pay Feb. 1, 2022, through April 15, 2022, a 21 percent penalty will be assessed.

The fiscal court also authorized the property valuation administrator to not print any tax bill that is less than $10.

In other business, the court approved the second reading of budget amendment #1, the sheriff’s budget amendment and the sheriff’s salary cap amendment before adjourning.