GE supports local option sales tax bill

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — One of Louisville’s largest companies says it supports a bill that would let local voters temporarily raise sales taxes to pay for public projects.

The bill has passed the House of Representatives but faced a hurdle in the state Senate after a group of 30 businesses sent a letter to lawmakers saying they oppose the bill because it could increases energy costs by $24 million each year. Residential power bills are exempt from sales taxes, but industrial power bills are not.

GE Appliances was one of the companies listed on the letter, but spokeswoman Kim Freeman said the company did not know about the letter and that they support the bill because it would give voters a choice to pay for important infrastructure projects.

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