County property tax rate drops slightly
Plus, 911 director retires
Fiscal Court Briefs
Property taxes to lower
The Madison County Fiscal Court has voted to drop property taxes. The unanimous decision happened on Tuesday at the Fiscal Court’s second regularly scheduled meeting of the month.
Real property tax rates are now to go from 6.8 cents per $100 of valuation to 6.5 cents per the same valuation. Practically speaking, a house currently valued at $100,000 will now owe $65 on their County property tax bill.
“The Fiscal Court does not set rates for other [County] taxing agencies, including school districts, the health department, the library system, among others,” Deputy County Judge Executive Jill Williams told The Edge in an interview.
During the meeting, County Judge Executive Reagan Taylor said, “From the very beginning of my service as County Judge Executive, I made a commitment to be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. I’m proud that when I began in 2015 the rate was 8.3 cents and it is now 6.5 cents.”
Taylor said the series of reductions to the property tax rate since he came to office in 2015 is due to running an “efficient” fiscal court but not at the expense of quality. “Fiscally conservative leadership and a sharp pencil has helped us provide real relief to taxpayers as home values rise,” Taylor said.
911 director to retire
Also at the meeting, the retirement of Madison County’s Emergency Communications Center director, Wendy Lynch, was announced. Lynch’s last day is Friday.
“No one is going to be sadder than Judge Taylor and I,” Williams said in the interview about Lynch’s retirement.
In Lynch’s absence the current assistant directors, Jodi Webb and Saraya Lakes, will take on the leadership responsibilities. Webb currently is assistant director of operations at the Center. Lakes assists in directing administration.
After 27 years in this career, including many years in leadership as a 911 Director, I’ve reached a point where I feel it’s the right time to step back and begin a new chapter in my life. This decision didn’t come lightly — it’s the result of a lot of reflection on my personal goals and the needs of my family. I’ve had the honor of serving my community, working with an incredible team, and helping to shape the growth and evolution of emergency communications.
“I feel that I’ve accomplished what I set out to do,” Lynch told the edge in an email. “Personally, I’m looking forward to having more time for family, health, and interests that I’ve had to put on hold. I leave with a deep sense of pride in what we’ve built and confidence in our team that will carry the mission forward and continue to get the right responder to the right location at the right time. I will miss my leadership role, but I know my team is ready and will do great.”
Lynch said one of her greatest challenges as director has been to stay ahead of the curve of the rapidly evolving technology in her field, and to meet the workforce challenges of recruiting and retaining qualified tele-communicators who can withstand working in a “high-stress, emotionally demanding field”, something she said has been “difficult.”
“Most of all, I want to see the people I’ve worked alongside — many of whom I’ve mentored and watched grow — rise into leadership roles, bring in fresh ideas, and carry forward the legacy we’ve built together with pride and purpose,” Lunch said. “I hope they all know how much I will miss them, but how proud I am of them and their teamwork and passion.”
Williams said that a search for a new director will not begin for at least 90 days. “We want to make some decisions on what kind of skillset and leadership we will be looking for. Because we have capable leadership now, we have the ability to take our time,” she said.
The next Fiscal Court meeting will be held on Monday, Sept. 9, in the Berea City Hall Annex Building at 304 Chestnut Street.
Meetings are broadcast on the County’s Youtube channel.