Dear Chamber Member,

Last week the chamber leadership met with our local state legislators.  We shared the results of the Chamber’s recent public policy survey and our intention to advocate for key issues impacting local business growth and economic competitiveness.

In fact, based on the survey results, extensive research and thoughtful discussion, this week the Chamber Board of Directors unanimously approved support for a Kentucky constitutional amendment that would allow for voter-approved local option sales tax of up to one percent.   Such a tax would be designated for specific quality of life capital projects and would end once the projects are paid in full.

We want to be very clear that the chamber is not endorsing a tax, but rather the right for voters to decide and approve for themselves what projects are most important for their community.

It’s often been said the further away your tax dollars travel, the less control you have over how they are spent.  With this endorsement the chamber is saying that Hardin County residents should have a direct say in choosing and funding important community projects.  This constitutional amendment would allow the people to locally decide what projects, if any, should be undertaken and how they should be paid for.

We believe voters should be empowered to determine how they want to see their community grow.

This is a common tool used throughout the country to invest in projects that enhance the quality of life in a community.  The chamber sees quality of life as essential to economic competitiveness.  When you invest in your community, you attract and retain a quality workforce and that allows you to grow existing business and attract new business.

The Chamber joins other business, government and economic development organization throughout the state calling for the constitutional amendment including the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, the Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky League of Cities, the Kentucky Association of Counties, the Kentucky Association of Economic Development, Greater Louisville Inc., and more.

We will continue to seek input from our members on public policy and advocate for key issues that directly impact our members, the local business climate and our communities’ economic competitiveness.

We are available to meet with you if you would like to learn more about this important opportunity.

Sincerely,

Brad Richardson, Hardin County Chamber of Commerce