10 Kentucky counties with the highest property taxes earmarked for schools

Fayette County was already in the top 10 counties for property taxes earmarked for schools before the school board voted to increase them for security purposes.

The cost is going up from 75 to 80 cents per $100 in real estate taxes for Fayette County property owners as a result of the vote, barring a petition gaining enough signatures to force a countywide vote.

The cost still comes with community consequences including long-term concerns for Lexington's real estate industry.

"None of those tax increases by themselves have a dramatic increase, but as an aggregate, over a period of time, there's no question they have an upward pressure on the cost of owning a home, and one of the things that we become greatly concerned about is as the cost of home ownership goes up, it makes it more difficult for first-time home buyers," Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors CEO Justin Landon said.

Fayette County Superintendent Manny Caulk argues the $13.5 million initiative is a forward-thinking strategy to make the school system the safest in the country.