By Allyson Dix
For Glasgow News 1
Barren County’s existing property tax rate will remain the same at 12.2 cents per $100 of assessed value after the fiscal court unanimously approved a resolution setting the rate Sept. 1 in a roll call vote.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd explained that the tax rates are submitted to taxing districts each year from Frankfort and the county was presented with options to consider a rate between 12 cents and 12.4 cents.
Before voting on the resolution, Byrd made a motion asking magistrates if they wanted to raise taxes from 12.2 to 12.4 cents, seconded by Magistrate Derek Pedigo. After the motion failed on a 0-7 vote, consideration of the resolution setting the official 12.2-cents tax rate was approved.
The fiscal court also approved a rate of 15.3 cents per $100 of assessed value on motor vehicles and watercraft. Byrd said this rate also was passed down from Frankfort. The Department of Local Government sends letters each year to each taxing entity, including cities and schools. Each entity approves its own tax rate. Byrd said the tax rate set on Tuesday morning was solely for the county’s property tax rate.
“We do everything possible to keep these rates low, to keep expenses down, and to be able to pay these bills in county government,” Byrd said. “This is not something that is done lightly.”
Lease Agreements
In June 2026, the fiscal court approved an option-to-lease agreement with Wabuck Development Company to transform the former Barren County Health Department into senior citizen housing units.
Wabuck representative April Bowman explained why the change would benefit the development of the property, especially when it comes to scoring rates on low market tax credits in an already highly competitive application process.
Due to changes in the scoring process, the option-to-lease agreement with Wabuck would reduce its competitive score unless the property was donated. Because of this, the Hero Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the Glasgow Housing Authority, has agreed to enter into a similar contract to continue moving the project forward.
In turn, the Hero Foundation will donate the property to Wabuck for the development of about 75 affordable housing units for senior citizens.
The court unanimously voted to cancel the option-to-lease agreement with Wabuck and keep the $5,000 non-refundable earnest fee. Magistrates then approved entering into an Option for Ground Lease with the Hero Foundation for the 2.94 acres at 318 W. Washington St., Glasgow.
Other Business
The court also approved providing two dump trucks and two drivers for the annual Lakeshore Cleanup slated for Sept. 19.
“We’ve always helped out with that as a county,” Byrd said.
This event marks the 39th year that Friends of Barren River Lake and Park and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have partnered with sponsors to host the volunteer cleanup event. The event is set to start at 8 a.m. For more information, visit https://friendsofbarrenriverlake.com.
Magistrates approved ratifying a Closing Funds grant through the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. Byrd explained that Tate, Inc., a new industry housed in the former R.R. Donnelly building, qualified for a state grant due to hiring a certain number of employees in the community. The magistrates’ voted to approve the county as a pass-through for the funds.
The fiscal court approved receiving the financial report from the Barren County Conservation District. According to the report, the conservation district received $518,746.75 in revenue during fiscal year 2025-26, with a carryover amount from the previous year of $332,572.76. The report notes that after the year’s expenditures of $522,782.41, the conservation district had a balance of $328,538.10 as of June 30.
Invoices approved on Tuesday included:
$5,100 – Team First Sports, fall league uniform jerseys;
$5,560.63 – Kentucky State Treasurer, annual county fees;
$6,000 – Autonomy Today, annual CADMUS fee for the local jail;
$6,940.02 – Thomas Oil and Fuel;
$8,750 – Community Relief Fund contribution;
$11,250 – Arnold Consulting Engineering Services, site survey/Ag Expo Center;
$33,704.43 – Aramark, food service for the local jail;
$65,900.96 – Municipal Capital Finance, final payment on a total patcher;
$243,488.50 – Sherman Carter Barnhart Architects, Ag Expo Center
Byrd said invoices for Sherman Carter Barnhart and Arnold Consulting are being paid through the $1 million multi-county project funds appropriated by the State Senate and House in 2025.
Additionally, a total of $25,561.03 was approved for payment claims to various vendors.
The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for Sept. 15 at 9 a.m. in the Barren County Fiscal Courtroom.
Comments