The Paducah City Commission met on September 2, 2025, at 21:59 UTC for a regular meeting that included a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy, the introduction of a new city app, and approval of routine consent items. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Bray, with all commissioners present.
I'll go ahead and call this meeting to order on September 2nd, 2025 and ask the city clerk to please call roll. Commissioner Henderson. Present. Commissioner Smith. Here. Commissioner Thomas. Here. Commissioner Wilson. Present. Mayor Bray. Present. I would ask Commissioner Henderson to say the invocation if you would, and uh I'll ask everybody to remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. God of heaven, we thank you so much for this beautiful day that you've given us, and we thank you, Father always, for the blessings that we do enjoy. Father, we come to you tonight as a body, as commissioners, as mayor, and we thank you for the privilege that you've given us to serve this community. We pray, oh God, that in our deliberations and our thinking that uh we will make decisions that will indeed benefit the masses. Father, we pray for our employees, we pray for our city, and pray your covering on all of us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Mayor, none this evening. Okay, we'll kick off uh Audra. Uh welcome. Um, we'll let you talk about we have a property tax hearing. Yes. Uh good evening, Mayor, Commissioners, City Manager, City Clerk. The purpose of this public hearing is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed 27.1 cent real estate tax levy. A hearing is required by Kentucky revised statutes if the proposed rate exceeds the compensating rate, which is twenty-six point one cents this year. Local government is permitted to adjust their rate upward by four percent above the compensating rate. We're proposing to take the four percent allowable this year. Later in tonight's meeting, the proposed property tax levy ordinance will be introduced. Staff recommends that you set the city's real estate uh real estate property tax levy at twenty-seven point one cents. The final reading for the levy ordinance is September 15th. And I'll be happy to answer any questions you all might have. Uh no questions from me. I think I understand it pretty well. Um is this the time we'd open but the hearing? So there's some people that have filled out um some sheets here, so uh I'll start with Matthew. Okay, sorry if I mispronounce it. Okay. Thank you, sir. Well, thank you for the opportunity to uh to speak here today. Um I find as as I heard about this today, I'm one of those people that doesn't come to these meetings very often. In fact, if I come, it's because it's something I'm real passionate about. So you'll not see me here very often. But uh, I think there's a lot of people like that too. In fact, as I look around, I really don't see a lot of people here. And I think this is an issue that a lot of people are going to care about. I think that when their taxes increase, they've already seen an increase in property value assessments, so they've seen an increase in tax, but when they actually see this come through, I think you're gonna find there's gonna be people like me that start coming to these meetings more often. I I would call them sleeping giants.