PADUCAH, Ky.--Both sides of the Paducah/McCracken County merger debate are using the tricky topic of taxes to get your vote.

"Paducah/McCracken United" says if the governments merge, there will be a five year freeze on taxes, but the "Say No To Metro" group claims that's a promise that can't be kept.

Lots of people got that dreaded tax bill in the mail today. The money goes to lots of different places; the community college, fire department, State of Kentucky, public schools, and more. We found out the merged government leaders would only have the authority to freeze a couple of those categories.

At the heart of the metro government debate is the metro government document, and these pages contain a promise that's raising questions and eyebrows.

"We have received so many phone calls over this," McCracken County Property Valuation Administrator Nancy Bock said.

She said the topic of taxes is tricky, and the promise of a five year freeze doesn't mean what people think.

"They ask me well does this mean our taxes are going to be frozen for five years, I'm like no," Bock said.

The new merged government only has the authority to freeze a percentage of the taxes on your tax bill. For example, the Concord Fire Department is its own taxing district and they would still get to set their own tax rates.

There's a tax bill that someone received today; this person owes 239 dollars. But only 25 of those dollars are county taxes, the rest goes to the library, county extension office, health department, and others.  Those tax rates are set by those entities. The new government would only have the authority to set the county or city tax rate, and the Paducah Junior College tax rate, which is 12 percent of this person's bill.

Paducah McCracken United Spokesperson John Williams Junior said the intent of the freeze was to force the new government to find ways to save money.

"This was about getting a better structure of government, not about changing taxes," Williams said.

If passed, for five years, some of you tax rates would go unchanged.
 
Bock also points out that your assessed property value could change during that five year period, if the value of your property goes up, your tax bill will go up too, even if your county tax rate stays the same.

On Local 6 Sunday, Robert Bradfield will moderate a debate  between a pro-merger and anti-merger spokesperson.

Tune in to Local 6 Sunday at 6:00 a.m. to watch that debate.