OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The Oak Grove City Council narrowly approved the second and final vote to establish a property tax rate following recurring debates about a tax levy.
The proposed 4% levy does not increase taxes by 4% but increases overall revenue by 4%. The rate is actually lower than last year’s property tax rate while still producing more revenue due to an increase in the city’s overall tax base. The levy allows the city to maintain the revenue needed to support the established fiscal year budget while also providing taxpayers with a reduced tax rate, lowered by approximately 12% compared with 2025.
Ultimately, when the council took the roll-call vote on the property tax rate of $0.2020 per $100 assessed value with the 4% levy, they were stuck in a tie once again. The first vote earlier in September ended in a tie, and budget talks this summer also ended in ties due to disagreements about the tax rate.
| 2025 tax levy | 2026 4% increase tax levy |
|---|---|
| Real Property: $0.231 per $100 assessed value | Real Property: $0.2020 per $100 assessed value |
| Personal Property: $0.1050 per $100 assessed value | Personal Property: $0.1045 per $100 assessed value |
| Revenue Produced: $1,481,151 | Projected Revenue: $1,562,878 |
Arguments among council members, passing the tax rate
Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, multiple councilmembers expressed a desire to further lower the 4% levy. Councilmember Janet Edwards suggested a 3.48% property tax levy instead, noting it would still bring in approximately $1,496,000 in revenue.
Councilmember Jean Leavell recommended the council “give back to property owners” by lowering the tax rate even more. “We increased the budget spending by 4%,” Leavell said. “But this is one year we have the opportunity to lower our tax rate and also come in with a plus — not as much as the 3.5 or 4% that we could take by law as an increase this year.”
Both Leavell and councilmember Edward Cook pointed to rising prices for citizens as part of their reasoning for lower tax rates. “The lower we can go the better,” Cook said. He added he had been contacted by citizens expressing they could not afford it and mentioned some community members are on fixed incomes.
Mayor Jackie Oliver noted that Oak Grove is experiencing more and more growth. “We do have a lot of growth coming,” Oliver said. “So we do have to always keep that in mind.”
Councilmembers Richard Baker and John Campbell also expressed wanting to further lower the tax rate. Campbell said although the 4% levy proposal is still lower than it was last year, he would have liked to see more options.
Baker, Leavell, and Spencer voted in favor, while Campbell, Cook, and Edwards voted against, with a tie initiated once again. Mayor Oliver was the deciding vote, siding in favor of the property tax rate and passing the ordinance.
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