By Magen McCrarey
Staff Writer
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. —
The City of London will not be raising tax rates this year, as they will remain the same as the previous year. Property tax rates will be levied at .090 cents on every $100 dollars, and personal property tax, as well as motor vehicle and motorboat tax rates, will stand at .0968 on every $100.
Council members estimated that a four-percent increase in taxes would only increase revenue by $2,000, and elected to keep the rate the same.
The current rate remained unchanged for three years in a row, and the rates were originally lowered when the economy turned south in 2009, Mayor Troy Rudder said.
The London City Council also discussed the existing Halloween Trick-Or-Treating ordinance and approved the feast of sweets for Wednesday, Oct. 31. The council also decided to leave the existing ordinance regarding the sale of fireworks as is after a couple of citizen inquiries by Randy Miller. Council members approved the decision based with a four to two vote.
If an ordinance was to pass allowing the sale of fireworks in the City of London, council members commented they would also have to allow citizens to shoot off fireworks. The current ordinance restricting fireworks from being sold or shot within city limits was originally created because of a fatal injury relating to a fireworks display.
Also approved by the council:
• The second reading of the city parking fines ordinance, establishing new parking fines and fees for all downtown time-restricted spaces. Parking longer than the allotted time, on the wrong side of the street, over the line, and on sidewalk will all have a $10 fine. If that fee is not paid within 48 hours, a $20 fee will be charged. Parking in a handicap space without a handicap tag on display will be a $40 fine. That fee will be increased to $60 if not paid within 48 hours.
• The resignation of David Altizer and the appointment of Edd Manning for the London-Laurel Joint Planning and Zoning Commission.
• An agreement with Kentucky Division of Forestry for a London Tree Board grant.
mmccrarey@sentinel-echo.com
