All of the area’s delegation to the state House voted for House Bill 8—the tax reform bill that passed the House Friday—believing it could mean growth in Kentucky’s population and economic opportunities in the future.
As previously reported, the legislation sponsored by Representative Jason Petrie of Elkton would reduce the income tax by a percentage point next year while expanding the sales tax base—not to include groceries or medicine—and there would be revenue targets for the future to reduce the income tax further with the hopes of eventually eliminating it.
Ninth District State Representative Myron Dossett believes some of the Clarksville area’s rapid growth can be attributed to Tennessee’s lack of an income tax.
House Bill 8 now heads to the Senate, where Senator Whitney Westerfield of Christian County has a favorable view of it.
Meanwhile, House Bill 239—the constable reform bill—passed the House this week and it would require newly-elected constables to receive the same training as sheriff’s deputies before performing some duties.
Eighth Distrist Representative Walker Thomas voted against the bill that would make those constables get 20 weeks of training, saying there are rural areas of Kentucky where a constable may be the only person near an emergency.
It now heads to the Senate.
Hear local legislators discuss these issues and others Sunday morning at 9 on Lite Rock 98.7 and online at lite987whop.com.