But when he learned that school taxes on his $200,000 Kenton County home will grow from $984 or so to $1,136 next year - thanks to a new "nickel growth" tax - Hyland balked.

Where was the public input? he asked.

"To be quite frank, I can't think of a situation where they would need that much emergency funding that quick," he said.

"Do they have to hire a bunch of teachers? You don't do something that quick to build buildings."

Kenton and Boone did.

Using a one-time authorization from the state Legislature, they joined 17 "growth school districts" in passing nickel growth taxes, which are protected from voter recalls.

Recalls in Kentucky are the after-the-fact equivalent of failed school levies in Ohio. They're always a danger.

Kentucky school revenues are raised mostly through local property and real estate taxes. State law allows school boards to raise revenues by 4 percent each year without seeking a public vote.

Any amount beyond that subjects the tax to the possibility of a voter recall. All it takes to get a recall on the ballot are the signatures of 10 percent of registered voters.

Most tax repeal efforts have succeeded.

Growing school districts need better odds than that, said state Rep. Jon Draud.

He was among a majority of legislators who in April passed budget language allowing the nickel growth tax.

It's a godsend for districts like Kenton and Boone.

Boone County, the third largest county in Kentucky and its second fastest-growing, has 400 more students than its schools can hold. The crunch can only get worse, school officials said.

Boone's school board Thursday voted unanimously for the tax , which will raise $4.5 million a year. About two dozen of the 100 people who attended the prior public hearing spoke for it.

Kenton County, on the other hand, has been growing steadily. Its students aren't as squeezed, but the school system needs help paying for ongoing renovations and for new schools.

Kenton's board voted to raise $3 million a year via the nickel tax. Only six residents attended its hearing, and a few supported it.

Jeanie Rauch, a parent of three Kenton County students, said she wasn't notified of the meeting.

"When it's coming out of your own pocket, you should have the opportunity to vote on it," she said. "It should be publicized and out in the open."

Kenton County ran legal ads in newspapers and on its Web site, said Dr. Susan K. Cook, superintendent.

Why should boards advertise broadly the fact that they're about to raise taxes, Draud said. There are enough misguided voters out there to kill a tax, or at least make trouble for board members, he said.

And don't expect many state legislators to take that heat, said Draud, who has tried unsuccessfully to raise cigarette taxes.

"Nobody wants to pay taxes, but everybody wants better education and roads. Most legislators don't have the courage to do what's right."

This, at least, gives schools a chance at better buildings, he said.

---

E-mail damos@enquirer.com or phone 768-8395