Wednesday night, with a unanimous vote, the Fayette County School Board passed a tax increase for a school safety plan. During a public hearing before the vote, most people in attendance said they supported the move which would tack on a five cent tax for every $100 of property value. That adds about $88 more per year for the average Lexington homeowner and will create $13.5 million in revenue to pay for the districts ten point safety plan.
Superintendent Manny Caulk said that would allow Fayette County to add additional law enforcement officers, mental health professionals, metal detectors, social media monitoring, interior and exterior upgrades, and student and staff id badges.
Some residents did voice opposition to the increase, saying FCPS should find the money elsewhere. They have 45 days to petition for the issue to be placed on a ballot. It would need signatures from 10% of the number of voters from the last presidential election year.