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Opponents of a property tax increase designed to provide additional education funding for Jefferson County Public Schools said they have the signatures to force a referendum on the issue.The group, "No JCPS Tax Hike," announced Wednesday they have 43,000 signatures, well above the 35,000 signatures needed by Friday. State law allows referendums on any property tax increase above 4.5 cents.The Jefferson County Board of Education approved a 7-cent increase in May, which would raise the annual tax bill on a $100,000 home by $70. JCPS had originally sought a 9.5-cent increase."We're in a recession right now and people are really struggling," said Theresa Camoriano, a longtime Libertarian activist who organized the group. "This is no time for a tax hike."Camoriano and others accuse JCPS of mismanaging the money it already has.A state audit of JCPS criticized the school district for not raising property taxes over a long period of years, saying the failure to do so has resulted in backlog of needs.JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio has said the money could be used for renovations and new school construction, investments in technology and pay incentives to lure the best teachers to the city's highest-need schools.The plan has drawn the support of groups like the Urban League, who say it will help address the achievement gap."If we say that we really care about our kids, we care about what our city is going to look like in 10 to 12 years, and even in the short interim, we need to invest in our children," said Dr. Kish Cumi Price, director of education policy and programming for the Louisville Urban League.Opponents of the tax increase must turn in their petition and signatures to the Jefferson County Clerk by Friday. The referendum will appear on the ballot on Nov. 3.

Opponents of a property tax increase designed to provide additional education funding for Jefferson County Public Schools said they have the signatures to force a referendum on the issue.

The group, "No JCPS Tax Hike," announced Wednesday they have 43,000 signatures, well above the 35,000 signatures needed by Friday. State law allows referendums on any property tax increase above 4.5 cents.

The Jefferson County Board of Education approved a 7-cent increase in May, which would raise the annual tax bill on a $100,000 home by $70. JCPS had originally sought a 9.5-cent increase.

"We're in a recession right now and people are really struggling," said Theresa Camoriano, a longtime Libertarian activist who organized the group. "This is no time for a tax hike."

Camoriano and others accuse JCPS of mismanaging the money it already has.

A state audit of JCPS criticized the school district for not raising property taxes over a long period of years, saying the failure to do so has resulted in backlog of needs.

JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio has said the money could be used for renovations and new school construction, investments in technology and pay incentives to lure the best teachers to the city's highest-need schools.

The plan has drawn the support of groups like the Urban League, who say it will help address the achievement gap.

"If we say that we really care about our kids, we care about what our city is going to look like in 10 to 12 years, and even in the short interim, we need to invest in our children," said Dr. Kish Cumi Price, director of education policy and programming for the Louisville Urban League.

Opponents of the tax increase must turn in their petition and signatures to the Jefferson County Clerk by Friday. The referendum will appear on the ballot on Nov. 3.

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Group says it has signatures to force referendum on Jefferson Co. tax increase for education - WLKY Louisville