City approves unchanged property tax rate, public safety ordinance
Published 2:53 pm Thursday, September 3, 2026
A 2026 property tax rate of $0.203 per $100 of assessed value was given preliminary approval by Bowling Green city commissioners on Tuesday, a rate that remains unchanged from the tax rate implemented last year.
“We feel this is the right number,” City Manager Jeff Meisel told officials. “It … does not increase our rate at all.”
The rate means that an owner would pay $203 in taxes on a piece of property valued at $100,000. Property values are assessed by the Warren County Property Valuation Administrator’s office, not by local government.
Officials also OK’d a personal property rate of $0.260 per $100, a rate that was set 46 years ago and has not changed since.
Property tax rates require two votes before becoming final in the City of Bowling Green, with a second reading set now for Sept. 15. Tax invoices will be sent out this fall with a payment deadline of Thursday, Dec. 31. Starting Jan. 1, late fees will be applied to delinquent payments.
City commissioners last year opted to lower the real property rate to $0.203 per $100 from $0.204 per $100.
Email newsletter signup
The reduction was done after around 60% of commercial and residential property in Warren County, including Bowling Green, saw an increase in assessed value. Broken down, City Manager Jeff Meisel said then this reflected 33,000 properties out of 54,700 that saw values rise.
“ … When you do 60% in one year, that really messes with your calculations,” he said.
Commissioners also gave early approval to a new ordinance that seeks to improve pedestrian safety along busy roads in town by making it illegal to remain stationary on city owned rights-of-way.
The ordinance would apply to city-maintained rights-of-way not intended for pedestrian use. It would not apply to sidewalks or private property. It seeks to improve driving and pedestrian safety on heavily-trafficked roads, like Campbell Lane and Smallhouse Road.
The Kentucky General Assembly this year passed House Bill 189, which placed similar restrictions on state-maintained rights-of-way.
“Our number-one job as commissioners is community safety,” said Commissioner Sue Parrigin, who sponsored the ordinance. “That’s the most important thing to me.”
A permit would be required for anyone looking to gather in right-of-way areas. Additionally, safety equipment including cones or high-visibility vests would need to be present to enhance visibility of pedestrians.
City Attorney Hillary Hightower said the ordinance would primarily impact large gatherings of people, like on election day when candidate supporters hold signs along roadways.
Discussion focused on the potential impacts the ordinance would have on private property owners and organizations advertising different events on the sides of roads. Commissioner Dana Beasley-Brown expressed concern that the ordinance would limit a person’s ability to do anything outside their home.
“I feel like people should be able to stand at their mailbox and talk to their neighbor, they should be able to sit in their front yard,” she said.
An amendment made to the ordinance on the floor was approved 3-2, removing a $20 permit fee from the ordinance.
Beasley-Brown, Commissioner Carlos Bailey and Mayor Todd Alcott voted in favor of the amendment with Parrigin and Commissioner Melinda Hill voting against. Another amendment added a provision that the ordinance would not apply to property owners who live along major roads. This amendment passed 5-0.
The final ordinance as amended passed unanimously. Commissioners will meet again Sept. 15.
About Jack Dobbs
Jack covers city government for the Daily News. Originally from Simpson County, he attended Western Kentucky University and graduated in 2022 with a degree in journalism.
