Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo is putting his political clout behind a proposal to allow local governments to temporarily raise taxes to help pay for big construction projects. Stumbo and the top House Republican, Jeff Hoover, said Friday they will be lead sponsors of the local-option sales tax proposal during next year's legislative session.
Stumbo says the proposal is gaining support in the House.
The proposal would let local governments impose up to an extra 1 percent sales tax to raise money for big construction projects. Voters would have to approve the tax first.
The measure would go on the 2016 ballot as a constitutional amendment if it clears the legislature.
The mayors of Louisville and Lexington spoke up for the proposal Friday, as did the Daviess County judge-executive.
