The Boyle County Board of Education set the 2017 tax rate Thursday night, keeping the same rate as last year of 70.4 cents per $100 of assessed value.

“We’re really happy to be able to make this presentation tonight, or our recommendation — David Morris and myself — of an unchanged tax rate of 70.4 cents,” said Boyle County Superintendent Mike LaFavers. “We want to thank the board for the support over the years, particularly in 2015, when we made that nickel tax set up up to do some amazing things.”

The nickel tax was passed in 2015, with a rate projection of 71.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value for that year. The rate for 2015 actually came in at 71.4 cents. That was followed in 2016 by a compensating rate of 70.4 cents, which means the same amount of revenue was brought in at a lower rate due to property value increases.

The rate is expected to bring in $7.7 million in revenues this year. A house worth $100,000 will be assessed a $704 property tax bill for the school district.

“It’s real positive for the community and our children,” LaFavers said.

The board also heard from Chris Holderman, director of pupil personnel at the district, regarding enrollment for the year.

“It’s been a great start to the year,” Holderman said.

Some of the district schools did see decreases in early attendance compared to last year:

• Perryville Elementary School, 248 students last year to 225 this year;

• Junction City Elementary School, 326 to 302; and

• Boyle’s day treatment or alternative program, 18 to 10.

Other schools saw increases compared to last year:

• Woodlawn Elementary School, 522 students last year to 528 this year;

• Boyle County Middle School, 627 to 643; and

• Boyle County High School, 852 to 887.

Overall, the district had 2,575 students at the start of last school year and 2,585 this year — a negligible increase of 10 students or about four-tenths of a percent. Holderman said those numbers could change as the year progresses.

Holderman said the district kindergarten numbers were down, too, because of a new state law moving the birthday cut-off date from October to August.

Last school year, there were 182 students in kindergarten; this year, there were 138, a drop of 44 students or about 24 percent.

Preschool hasn’t yet started in the district, but Jenna Blair, director of the district preschool program, said they anticipate their numbers to be up.