By William Croyle
Enquirer contributor

FLORENCE - Boone County taxes will be heading higher after the school board officially approves the 2003-2004 property tax rate next week.

A public hearing was held Thursday night to discuss a proposal to raise the total property tax rate from 44.2 cents per $100 valuation for real estate and personal property to 49.2 cents for real estate and 49.9 cents for personal property.

The owner of a $100,000 home in Boone County would pay an additional $50 a year in real estate taxes.

After the hearing, three of the board members said they will vote for the levy at next Thursday's meeting. Three votes are all that is needed from the five-member board for it to pass.

"My phone has been ringing and people have been overwhelmingly positive about it. I will vote for it," said board chairman Steve Kinman.

Board members Ed Massey and Ken Cook also said they will support the measure. Karen Byrd said she is still gathering information on the issue, while Steve Templeton was out of town.

About 100 Boone County citizens and school employees attended the hearing, with the vast majority in favor of the higher rate. Nearly two dozen people addressed the board. Only one spoke against the hike.

The proposed hikes this year take advantage of the "growth nickel tax," a one-time tax made available by the 2003 General Assembly to the state's fastest-growing school districts. That rate can be as much as 5.7 cents per $100 valuation.

The tax is not subject to voter recall, and must be used strictly for building purposes - something district officials say they desperately need.

With 1,500 new students enrolling in its 18 schools the last two years, the district now has 15,301 students, but only has a capacity of 14,910. District officials project 18,367 students by 2009-2010.

"I think there's compelling evidence that we need (the nickel tax) to keep up with growth," said Superintendent Bryan Blavatt.

The district has already approved construction of a 600-pupil middle school on Camp Ernst Road, which is scheduled to open for the 2005-2006 school year.

With the nickel tax, it will be expanded to 900 seats.

Other projects officials say will be possible with the tax include two new elementary schools, a new high school, land purchases for future schools, and seven major renovations or additions to existing schools.

The vote next week will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Ralph Rush Development Center at Florence Elementary School, 103 Center St.