HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Hopkinsville City Council made two key decisions during the Sept. 15 meeting to separately establish a property tax rate for this fiscal year, and initiate water rate increases for residents. The two ordinances permitting these decisions had their second and final vote Tuesday night.
While water rates will be going up, property tax rates will stay the same. Councilmembers proposed and approved a property tax rate of 20.2 cents per $100 of assessed property, which is maintained from last fiscal year. This was unanimously approved by present councilmembers for the first and second readings.
Final vote to increase HWEA rates is approved
A multi-year rate increase plan by Hopkinsville Water Environmental Authority aims to bring in extra revenue for infrastructure projects. Once again, the city council unanimously approved the increase for the second and final reading with no discussion. The increase will take effect in October.
As previously reported, the plan includes alternating rate increases, slowing raising the sewer and water rates separately. The first water adjustment would be on Oct. 1, and it would increase the average customer’s monthly bill by approximately $2.15 for the utilization of around 3,740 gallons per month. The first sewer adjustment would follow six months after that in April 2027 and would increase the combined monthly bill by approximately $3.60.
Subsequent adjustments would continue alternating between water and sewer increases every six-months through April 1, 2029. Once the incremental increases conclude, the HWEA bill of the average customer, estimated to be $62.00, would rise to around $80.85 per month. This is an increase of around $18.85.
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