Key Votes: Some Good Legislation
SB 72 - Honoring the Spirit of HB 44
The legislation that set forth the annual 4% cap on property tax increases is commonly referred to as HB 44, even though there's a new HB 44 every year. While the cap has kept property taxes lower in Kentucky there are many taxing authorities that do not fall in the cap, and effectively create annual increases larger than 4%. SB 72 would require the fiscal court to approve increases by these other taxing authorities, bringing better accountability and helping create an honest cap. SB 72 is currently sponsored by Senators Damon Thayer (R-Scott, #2 and John Schickel (R-Kenton, new) and the Kentucky Club for Growth will reward them and other cosponsors of SB 72 on its 2009 scorecard.
SB 49 - Repeal the Rain Tax
Senator Thayer (R-Scott, #2) again has taxpayer fairness in mind, as this bill prohibits a citizen or business from being charged storm water taxes if they are unserved by the sanitary or storm water system. The government should either provide the service to an area or exempt the area from the fees related to the unprovided service.
HB 411 - Combining the KVE into the KSP
HB 411 eliminates Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement and merges its operations and functions into the Kentucky State Police. They really are duplicative agencies, ever since the KVE was rules to have the authority of officers of the peace. When is the last time you remember a major state agency being eliminated in more than name? Sponsors are Representatives Mike Cherry (D-Caldwell, #78) and Sal Santoro (R-Boone, #11).
