Muhlenberg County voters have struck down a three percent county wide utility tax aimed at generating revenue for area schools. Eighty eight percent of 7161 votes were against the measure.
The district is one of only 15 in Kentucky without such a utility tax. School Board Finance Officer Eric Bletzinger says without the extra funds, county schools are forced to keep doing more with less.
“This just means we all have to work together harder and more efficiently to ensure that we find the funds no matter what," Bletzinger said. "As long as they’re walking in our halls, we’ll do everything in our power to ensure our kids are reaching their potential, and that’s a promise.”
The tax had been projected to raise about $1.5 million. Bletzinger says that cash could have helped make up a $2.2 million loss of in-lieu-of-tax payments from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Earlier this year, the school board approved an eight percent pay cut across non-tenured teachers.
