County clerk outlines petition deadlines and options after Logan County school board levies 'nickel' tax

County Clerk Stacy Watkins told the fiscal court July 8 that the Logan County School Board approved a local "nickel" tax on June 6 and that a petition committee has filed an affidavit to circulate a referendum petition.

Watkins said the petition committee must return signatures to the clerk's office by July 21; the petition needs signatures from at least 10% of the last presidential election voters within the Logan County school board district — she said that requires 1,043 valid signatures. Once submitted, the clerk's office has up to 30 days to review the petition for sufficiency and will forward it to the circuit clerk for certification within 10 days of a sufficiency determination.

Watkins explained three options available to the school board if a petition is certified as sufficient: hold a special election (not less than 35 days and not more than 45 days after certification) and pay the election costs; wait and place the question on the next general election ballot (which could delay implementation); or cancel/reconsider the original tax motion within 15 days of certification. She also said that if the board cannot supply a tax rate by Sept. 15 because of timing, the county would be required to issue a second tax billing (the school board would pay the cost of that second billing if it seeks to collect the increase).

Watkins said she had distributed relevant KRS sections (Kentucky Revised Statutes) to the court and cautioned that her office will only administer the petition process and not provide legal interpretation beyond the clerk's duties. She said state agencies such as the state board of elections and the secretary of state may be consulted about election logistics.

Ending: Watkins urged public clarity and noted the procedural deadlines; the petition committee and school board must now follow statutory steps before any change is effective.