Written by Beth Musgrave and Jack Brammer of the Herald-Leader
Kentucky’s cities and counties, which say they’re struggling to pay their bills despite a robust economy, would get more taxing options under a bill that is gaining momentum in the legislature.
House Bill 475, a constitutional amendment that would give the General Assembly authority to allow new types of local taxes, won strong approval Thursday in a 15-0 vote by the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee.
The measure has 56 co-sponsors, including House Speaker David Osborne (R-Prospect) and House Minority Leader Joni Jenkins (D-Louisville).
If passed by the General Assembly, the amendment would be placed on the ballot in November.
The Kentucky Constitution limits the types of taxes local governments can levy. The amendment would give the General Assembly authority to allow other types of taxes, said J.D. Chaney, president and CEO of the Kentucky League of Cities.
Meredith said the constitutional amendment has bipartisan support and is backed by the Kentucky Association of Counties, the Kentucky League of Cities, and the Pegasus Institute, a conservative think tank.
(Cross-posted via the Kentucky Press News Service. Read the rest of the article at the Herald-Leader.)
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