Kentucky counties that receive power from the Tennessee Valley Authority — or have TVA property within them — are pushing legislators for a boost to their economic development efforts. Trigg County is chipping in on that endeavor by contributing $1,000 to lobby lawmakers for their vote in favor of Senate Bill 9, according to Thursday’s meeting of the Trigg Fiscal Court.
The money will be paid to the Purchase Area Industrial Authority to help ensure the bill’s passage, according to Judge-Executive Hollis Alexander. He adds the return on investment could be sizable.
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The bill, sponsored by Senator Stan Humphries, would distribute a portion of in-lieu-of-tax payments from the federal agency to 39 communities in the southern and western portion of the state. Currently, TVA pays a fee in place of taxes that is deposited in the general fund and, if passed, SB 9 would evenly redirect a maximum of $6 million to those counties.
It isn’t the first time lawmakers attempted to pass it; previous attempts were made in 2013 and 2016. A house version of the bill received a second reading on Wednesday and was returned to the senate.
In other business, the fiscal court unanimously approved a $60,000 soil conservation budget. Magistrates also approved a $570,400 jail budget by 6-to-1; John Goodwin voted against.
The next fiscal court meeting is set for 6 p.m. April 2.
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