(Harlan, Ky.) – For the fourth year in a row, residents of the Harlan Independent School District will benefit from a reduction in property taxes approved by the Board of Education. The new rate—50.5¢, down from 50.9¢—marks the lowest level since 2017 and was made possible by rising property value assessments across the district compared to last year. Board members voted unanimously at their August meeting to approve the decrease, which is once again projected to rank among the lowest school tax rates in Kentucky.
Superintendent Jennifer Parsons reminded board members that Harlan Independent already has some of the lowest rates among school districts and spoke about the continued impact on the local community. “Strong schools are an investment in the future of our community, and I am extremely proud of the product we produce each year. We continue to see increases in enrollment in all K-12 classrooms which strengthens the district’s financial stability. The return on the local investment is something our board can be very proud of. We provided a staff raise again this year, continue to focus on facility improvements, and have some of the highest performing schools in Kentucky all while maintaining some of the lowest local tax rates in the entire state. That’s something the entire Harlan community can be proud of.”
After hearing a briefing by Superintendent Jennifer Parsons who shared tax data, the board unanimously voted in favor of lowering property rates for its residents. Board member Debby Howard commented, “I think this is wonderful to be able to lower the rates again while still accomplishing so much.”
Parsons shared that the average Independent School District tax rate for 2024 was 75.79¢ while Harlan Independent remained well below the average at 50.9¢ in 2024.
Board Chairman, Dr. Matthew Nunez also emphasized, “Building a strong school system requires the investment of the entire community, and the achievements of our students show the impact of that commitment. These efforts will continue to yield lasting benefits and provide a return we can all be proud of—because when our schools succeed, our whole community succeeds.”