Louisville

CITIZENS PETITION TO GUT POWER OF REVITALIZATION AUTHORITY

Citizens successfully petitioned to get a question on the November ballot that would transfer the authority of the appointed Louisville Revitalization Commission (LRC) to the elected City Council. Petitioners gathered more than 900 signatures, better than 300 more than needed to get on the ballot. The LRC has extensive authority over urban renewal activities in Louisville's urban renewal districts, including the ability to raise and spend revenues, deciding how and where to invest tax revenue, entering into contracts, etc. The LRC is expected to collect and spend about $77 million in property and sales taxes over the next 25 years. The citizen group submitted the petition to the city clerk on July 6. The clerk has 30 days to certify the petition. If certified, ballot language and titles will be determined after public hearings and must be submitted to the County elections office by September 7.