State and local governmental agencies are suffering from what is largely a self-inflicted economic wound. And the residents of Kentucky are victims of that assault.
Because of the shutdown orders issued by Gov. Andy Beshear, people are starving for income. Businesses have been closed and people have been put out of work. Because of the unemployment situation, individuals are seeing their budgets stretched farther than they can afford. The slow reopening means that employees aren't back to earning their full pre-shutdown wages, and the well-documented problems with the unemployment system have resulted in many Kentuckians not getting their benefits.
With personal budgets in crisis, now is absolutely the worst time for any public agency to consider a tax increase. The populace is already overtaxed, and adding to their tax burden at a time when they're having trouble paying their living expenses is the epitome of ridiculousness.
But no one ever accused those public officials elected in Jefferson County of having a lot of common sense. In late May, in the midst of the economic meltdown from which we still haven't recovered, the Jefferson County Board of Education passed a huge property tax increase.
This is the height of irresponsibility. At a time when people are having trouble paying for their food, their utilities, their vehicles, and their housing, the Jefferson County school board saddled Louisvillians with a tax increase of nearly 10 percent.
Tax cuts, not tax hikes, should be on the agenda for every public agency with taxing authority. This applies at all times, but especially so now. The best method to help people rebound from this economic crisis is to let them keep more of their own money to spend on necessities. The easiest way to put money in peoples' pockets is to never take it out of their pockets in the first place.
Thankfully, not all Jefferson Countians are bereft of common sense. Since tax increases above 4 percent are subject to voter recall, there's an effort underway to put that recall proposal on the ballot this fall. A group of patriotic folks have created a Web site that outlines the reasons this tax increase is a bad idea, and it contains an online petition to get the matter placed on the ballot.
Tax recall petitions face an uphill battle in the best of times. A certain percentage of voters within the taxing district have to sign the petition, and you have to live within that district's jurisdiction to be eligible to sign. I participated in two recall petitions in my small rural county a few years ago, and we beat back ill-advised tax increases foisted upon us by our school district. It was a struggle to get the required number of verified signatures in a county of 7,000; imagine the task in the state's most populous county.
That the Jefferson County school board would pursue such a large tax increase with economic conditions the way they are is nearly unfathomable. Then again, the Jefferson County education community was the loudest voice against efforts to save teachers' pensions undertaken by former Gov. Matt Bevin, with their opposition to his re-election playing a key role in his defeat. And at least one Louisville education beat reporter is beating the drum in opposition to the recall effort via her Twitter feed. So it's a stretch to expect any whiff of intelligence or common sense with them.
If you know someone who lives in Louisville, share the recall link -- https://nojcpstaxhike1.com/ -- with them and encourage them to sign the petition and spread the word. Let it be known that asking a financially burdened citizenry to pay more in taxes when they're struggling to pay their bills is beyond reprehensible.
