Last spring, the Fayette County School Board voted to raise the local occupational license tax to help plug a multimillion dollar budget hole.

It was a move that was deemed unconstitutional by the attorney General's office in Kentucky.

Republican Senator Amanda Bledsoe of Lexington has filed a bill that would block Fayette County's ability to try and raise that tax again.

Our McKenzie spent continues tonight's legislative update.

Senator Amanda Bledsoe says she's heard from Fayette County residents that they felt blindsided by the school board's vote to increase the occupational license tax.

Tax increases are serious and require community buy in.

Certainly not the day after a holiday weekend without public notification, which the Attorney General eventually ruled unconstitutional.

Currently, in order to raise the occupational license tax, a city needs to have a population of 300,000.

Lexington's population is currently roughly 330,000.

Senate Bill 76 would raise that threshold to 500,000, which would intentionally delay Fayette County's ability to raise the tax.

Supporters of the bill say it's to give the county time to rebuild trust and to allow more time for community buy in before another proposed tax increase.

Louisville Democrat Kasey Chambers Armstrong voted no on the bill, and Minority Leader Gerald Neal passed on the measure.

So I don't know the details of what happened in Fayette County or if this was the correct exercise of this particular tool.

But as someone who used to be in local government, I don't believe in taking tools away from local government.

I believe in local control and then letting local communities make decisions.

And so for that reason, I think it's an important tool for local government to be able to retain in case they need it in the future.

And so for that reason, I vote no.

I'd like to see what this means generally.

And now, you know, I have tremendous, trust in you.

But when I look at the broader situation, the other information that comes in, I don't think I have sufficient information.

I think you got a great school system there, with great leadership.

And, you doing good work there.

And I certainly wouldn't want to stumble around and undermine any of that.

Senate Budget Chairman Chris McDaniel offered this contrasting view from the Democrats.

I feel like there's more than adequate information that's been out there.

The papers have written about it.

Citizens have researched it.

Open records requests have revealed abuses that, frankly, are unlike anything that I've seen in my 12 years in the General Assembly.

And I will say state that I think by and large, Fayette County does have a great school system.

The difference, I would say, is they have very poor leadership at the highest echelons.

Senate Bill 76 passed the committee favorably and will next head to the Senate floor for consideration.

For Kentucky edition, I'm McKenzie Spink.

Thank you.

McKenzie.

The proposed legislation does not remove or alter any existing occupational license taxes.