Kenton County property owners will pay a lower county tax rate for the sixth year in a row after the Fiscal Court, the county's governing body, approved another cut Sept. 8.

The court dropped the real property tax rate from 11.5 cents to 11.3 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to a county press release. That 11.3-cent rate is the county's lowest since 1983, when the streak of increases that followed pushed the rate as high as 15.9 cents by 2020.

Six straight years of reductions have trimmed nearly a third off that 2020 peak.

The Fiscal Court also reduced the tangible personal property tax rate from 16.0 cents to 15.6 cents per $100 of assessed value. The motor vehicle tax rate stays at 15.8 cents per $100 of valuation.

"Every dollar matters to our residents, and we are always looking for responsible ways to manage our budget while continuing to provide the services our community depends on," Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann said.

Commissioner Beth Sewell said the county has never been in a stronger operating and financial position. She called it a privilege to lower the county's share of property tax bills while maintaining services residents expect.

The vote also marked one of the final tax actions for two retiring commissioners. Commissioner Jon Draud said he is proud the Fiscal Court is leaving the county in better shape than when he started. He said the court worked to strengthen finances, position the county for long-term growth and keep taxes low for families.

Commissioner Joe Nienaber struck a similar note. "Residents trust us to make every tax dollar count," Nienaber said. "Being able to consistently reduce the county's share of the property tax burden while continuing to deliver high-quality services demonstrates that we are honoring that trust."

The county's rates cover only the county's portion of a property tax bill. The Fiscal Court does not set rates for school districts, the Northern Kentucky Health Department, public libraries or fire protection districts. The county did not provide a per-household savings estimate.

Residents can view the full press release and contact the Fiscal Court through the Kenton County government website.