Hardin County Fiscal Court approves 2026 tax rates

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday. The court approved a resolution setting 2026 property tax rates for the county, with the county adopting a 4 percent revenue increase, setting the rate at 10.7 cents per $100 valuation. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul recommended the 4 percent increase rate, noting that the increased rate is actually lower than last year’s tax rate. “This decreases the current real estate property rate of 10.8 cents, what it was last year, to the recommended 10.7 cents per $100 valuation, and again, this is due to a growing county with almost a $1 billion increase in real estate property valuation,” Taul said. Taul said the estimated net revenue from the tax rate is about $10.35 million. The Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service (1.80), the Hardin County Soil Conservation District (.20), and the Lincoln Trail District Health Department (2.20) each elected to take the compensating rate and remain at last year’s rates. No comments were made during a public hearing on the tax rate. In other meeting news, the court approved a resolution on second reading that made text amendments to the county’s Zoning Ordinance. Hardin County Planning and Development Director Adam King said the changes, which were recommended for approval by the county’s Planning Commission, mostly “mimic state law.” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Branch Manager Bow Warren presented on Hardin County projects included in the KYTC Rural Secondary Program, which is funded by 22.2 percent of revenue from the state’s motor fuel tax. The plan includes routine maintenance and traffic, an asphalt resurfacing project on KY 920, and an asphalt base repair on KY 920. “Our entire program for this year is estimated at $1,544,643 for Hardin County,” Warren said. The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet September 22.