Midway property taxes will not increase as high as expected

By Scott White

Managing Editor

Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift announced at the Aug. 4 Midway City Council meeting that the increase in property taxes resulting from the recent assessments will not be as high as property owners expected. 

“Unlike a lot of politicians and local municipalities who will claim this is a tax decrease, the reality is that this is required by HB 44, which was passed in 1979 — a little-known provision in the Kentucky statutes that only allows an increase of 4 percent in the year following a new assessment,” Vandegrift explained. “This is a lower percentage than it would otherwise have been under the current Midway property tax ordinance.”

Vandegrift went on to give credit to Woodford County Property Valuation Assessor John Paul Coyle, who worked with the city on this issue. 

“Folks will be getting some relief from the amount of tax than it otherwise would have been,” said Vandegrift. 

The council requested the ordinance implementing this lower rate be given its first reading, and it is likely to pass at its second reading next week.

Encroachments: Council approved three encroachments. 

137 and 141 E. Main Street – Sugar Hill Designs received approval to encroach on a sidewalk on E. Main Street to resolve a serious water drainage and collection issue at a recently purchased building, in which a hospitality business will be going in. 

Sugar Hill owner Tony Bays explained at the last council meeting that the affected portions of the sidewalk will be repaired. Councilmember Steve Simoff told the council he met with Bays at the site and that he strongly supported the request.

Greathouse Family Pumpkin Wagon – The annual pumpkin farm wagon sponsored by the Greathouse family will again be located in a single parking spot on Gratz Street where it intersects with Main Street. The pumpkins are all priced at a low amount, and folks are invited to select a pumpkin and leave the cash payment in a locked box on the honor system. 

The wagon will open the weekend after Fall Festival and close immediately after Halloween.

Wandering Dog – Amanda and Brian Davis, owners of the popular, locally owned Wandering Dog hot dog cart with its famous “Jockey Dogs,” will set up in a single parking space in front of Midway Makers Market on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.