Bowling Green · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Bowling Green public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
FY2027 street paving and gas tax fairness
The city plans to spend $2 million repaving roughly 10 miles of streets and $400,000 fixing broken sidewalks, curbs and gutters under its annual Liquid Fuel Tax program. Sidewalk fixes target trip hazards by priority zone, with downtown and the medical center already addressed and the west end now in focus.
Riverfront Park Phase IV funding push
Phase II brings the park's big attractions — a car-themed playground, river spray ground, food truck area, observation mound and performance lawn — starting around September with about 12 months of construction. Phases three (whitewater park) and four (east side) follow.
FLOCK license plate reader policy
A WKU student told commissioners the city's FLOCK/ALPR program tracks residents' movements with unanswered questions about data storage, deletion and federal access — and urged the city to pause expansion while other Kentucky cities have suspended or curtailed theirs.
Expanded bus service on Route 4
The city is adding a Route 4B with a 50% service increase, cutting waits by about 30 minutes and adding 2,063 annual revenue hours for roughly $218,183. Commissioners also discussed the longer-term goal of Sunday service for WKU students and transit shelters at high-traffic stops.
Stormwater utility rollout
Bowling Green is building a modern stormwater utility because its 80% cave-and-karst drainage system can no longer handle runoff — commissioners referenced the April 2025 floods. The extra $460,000 for GPD Group gets billing integration ready for a January 1 launch.
Wilkinson Trace and Greenhill Street safety improvements
$108,000 will add a sidewalk block, flashing-beacon crossing and retractable bollards on Wilkinson Trace, and $550,000 more goes toward the Greenhill Street extension — the long-awaited second exit from Whispering Hills that's stalled on property acquisition and FEMA creek-crossing permits.
Missing stop sign and sewage odor complaint near Scholar House
A resident reported a stolen stop sign on Brownslock Road near Scholar House Apartments — where school buses stop and kids cross — and recurring sewage smells at her senior complex. The mayor referred both to Public Works, noting the road may fall under county jurisdiction.
Sinkhole repair costs keep climbing
Eleven active sinkhole projects prompted another $462,550 change order, pushing the Scott & Ritter contract to $1.642 million total. Last year's flooding alone caused over a million dollars of sinkhole damage, and the geologist expects more requests soon.
Property tax rates hold steady
The 2026 property tax rate stays at .203 per $100 for real estate — no increase — with a binding second reading set for September 15. Commissioners specifically refuted a circulating claim of a 20% hike.
Pedestrian safety restrictions in rights-of-way
The city finalized the closing of an unimproved right-of-way on Scott Lane with a unanimous binding second reading.
First-Responder Mental Health and Wellness Program
A $170,500 renewal with Help the Helpers keeps confidential peer support and counseling running for police, fire, and other city employees — a program credited with improving retention and possibly saving lives.
Fiscal Year 2027 city budget
The first reading of the FY 2027 budget shows $110.2 million in the General Fund (down $6.7 million) and $189.3 million in All Funds, reflecting a nearly $6.8 million revenue shortfall mainly from occupational fees. No programs or services are cut, employees get a 2.7% COLA, and a $25.9 million capital plan funds riverfront development, storm shelters, and roads.
Downtown free parking loss
A downtown business owner warned commissioners that removing the free State Street lot behind downtown shops could drive customers and employees away and threaten long-standing businesses.