Kentucky governments could publish required notices through qualifying digital newspapers

A qualifying paid digital newspaper could publish notices required by law. The option covers notices that the law requires to be published in a newspaper for a particular local area. The newspaper must have a local news office, publish at least weekly, report on local issues, provide public access to notices, and meet the listed public notice submission and print distribution requirements. A notice counts as published on the day it appears on the qualifying newspaper’s website, except for notices under KRS 424.145.

A newspaper chosen under the county fallback rules must post notices online and send them to a statewide public notice website. These duties apply when a county has no qualifying newspaper and a newspaper is selected under the adjoining-county fallback rules. The newspaper must post the notice on its own website at no extra cost and confirm when it was posted. To remain qualified, it must promote the statewide website at least four times each year. The newspaper must post and submit each notice within 24 hours of receipt, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. It must also publish each notice in its first print edition after receiving it or within seven days, whichever comes first.

For certain proposed local property tax rates, the public hearing notice gives a window of 7 to 21 days after the second advertisement. The provisions cover hearings on specified property tax rates above the applicable compensating rate. The rule covers specified city, county, special purpose entity, and school district tax proposals. In some cases, the taxing body may mail one notice to property owners instead of publishing two. The 7-to-21-day period starts on the day the second advertisement is published.