First reading of ad valorem tax held

The Berea City Council issued some good news for its citizens with the first reading of the ad valorem tax at Tuesday’s meeting.

There is no change in the property tax rate.

“This is the same rate as last year’s and in 2024,” said council member Teresa Scenters. “There is no raise.”

The rate was set at $0.089 per $100 of the assessed value of all real and personal property within the city of Berea. The real property tax rate is expected to generate revenue of $1,065,806, while the personal property tax rate is expected to generate $107,914, an increase in both from the previous year.

The compensating tax rate of real property is $0.088/$100 (expected revenue $1,053,830), and the compensating personal property tax rate ($0.088/$100) has an expected revenue of $106,702.

The city will hold a public hearing on Sept. 1 at 6:20 p.m. in the City Annex Building to receive input on the proposed tax rate for the 2025 tax year.

Berea student gives job shadowing report

Jackson Schill, a senior at Berea Community School, appeared before the council to provide an update on the job shadowing he did with the city over the summer and to propose making it a permanent program.

Schill approached the city before the summer to see if it had an internship available for students. While the city didn’t have an official internship, Schill was allowed to shadow each department during the course of the summer.

“I learned how all departments had to work together to make a better tomorrow,” Schill said.

Schill said he felt like this was a perfect opportunity for the city to implement a Summer Shadowing Program.

“I’m asking you to expand and create a new opportunity for kids,” Schill said. “It was an eye-opening experience for me, and I would love for others to see this. This is a great opportunity for you to invest in the youth of the community. This program would be an awesome start in shaping tomorrow’s future.”

The council agreed that starting a program like Schill proposed would be a good thing and said they would look into it and asked Schill if he would help them develop such a program.

“This is something we can certainly work out and would be a great experience for anyone,” Mayor Bruce Fraley said. “I look forward to working with you.”

“I think it’s a good idea,” council member Steve Caudill said. “I think we can find a way for a mentorship program.”

Not a sewer leak at Exit 77

City Administrator Shawn Sandlin was asked about the sewer smell in the area of Exit 77.

“It’s not a sewage leak,” Sandlin said. “There is a low area that is holding water and not draining.” He said he has had officials check out the area and they found no sewage leak.

“We are looking at cleaning out all the ditches, and we are doing testing to cover our bases,” he said.

In other business, the council:

• Approved the grant program funding for ARC application/J.C/ Chambers Road.

• Approved the first reading of an ordinance for the solid waste franchise contract amendment.

• Approved and passed the second reading of the 150 & 171 Seventy-Six Boulevard right-of-way release.