The House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs approved a measure that would allow citizens to consider local sales taxes in a 6 to 3 vote this morning.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer’s office stated in a release that the bill will be moved to the full House with bipartisan support as Republicans Bart Rowland and Kevin Bratcher joined Democrats Sannie Overly, Darryl Owens, Derrick Graham and Mary Lou Marzian in supporting the measure.
If passed in the House and Senate, then signed by the governor, voters would decide this fall on amending the Kentucky Constitution to allow local votes on increased sales tax, which would first have to be approved by area councils or fiscal courts.
Overly, of Paris, said cities and counties she represents in Central Kentucky have projects that Frankfort cannot fund -- and that is why she is a supporter of local option.
"Ever since I've been in Frankfort, I've had each and every one of my communities come to me and ask me for assistance with something in that community through the state budget process," she said according to the release. "There isn't enough money for our priorities and -- as a result, as the end of the day -- there is certainly not enough money for me to help with local community initiatives. I am glad to vote yes on this measure because I, like Rep. Graham, want to give my local community an option if they are willing to step forward and raise their own money and fund their own projects."
Graham, of Frankfort, echoed Overly’s thoughts on allowing those willing to fund their own projects. "Why should we inhibit local governments in trying to initiate those local programs that would impact their local communities," Graham asked.
The vote occurred one day after all living Kentucky governors endorsed the measure. It also came as a new poll, conducted by the Local Investments For Transformation (LIFT) Coalition, reinforced the strong support from all parts of Kentucky.
The poll of 700 voters showed that 61 percent of Kentuckians favor local option while 33 percent oppose, mirroring the Bluegrass State Poll released earlier this year. The poll shows support from Republicans (61 percent), Democrats (60 percent), Independents (59 percent) and Tea Party supporters (59 percent).
The poll also showed geographic support -- the Northern Kentucky region (67 percent), Lexington region (64 percent), Western Kentucky (61 percent), Louisville region (58 percent) and Eastern Kentucky (57 percent).
In addition, 52 percent of voters said they would have a positive reaction if their State Representative or Senator voted to put local option on the ballot for Kentucky citizens to decide -- 29 percent said it would not affect their views of their elected officials and 14 percent would have a negative reaction. The poll also showed that nearly 7 in 10 voters -- 69 percent -- would support a state legislator who supports the ability of local voters to make their own decisions via local option.
The poll was conducted between February 26 and March 3 by Voter Consumer Research and Garin-Hart-Yang of Washington D.C.
Two local option bills are pending in the General Assembly -- Senate Bill 135, filed by Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville and House Bill 399, heard today, whose primary sponsor is Rep. Tommy Thompson, D-Owensboro and the House Majority Whip. The house bill is co-sponsored by 16 others, including Republicans and Democrats.
They are:
Tom Burch (D-Louisville)
Denny Butler (D-Louisville)
John "Bam" Carney, House Minority Whip, (R-Campbellsville)
Jeff Donohue (D-Louisville)
Kelly Flood (D-Lexington)
Jim Glenn (D-Owensboro)
Jim Gooch (D-Providence)
Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort)
Richard Heath (R-Mayfield)
Jeff Hoover, House Minority Floor Leader, (R-Jamestown)
Terry Mills (D-Lebanon)
Sannie Overly, House Majority Caucus Chair, (D-Paris)
Steve Riggs (D-Louisville)
Rita Smart (D-Richmond)
John Tilley (D-Hopkinsville)
Brent Yonts (D-Greenville)