Bowling Green commission backs local control, approves contracts and grant applications

The Bowling Green Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 voted unanimously on a slate of routine and substantive measures, including a resolution opposing proposed state legislation to centralize collection of local occupational taxes, approval of contracts for an employee-assistance program and architectural design for tornado-safe rooms and a community center, and submission of a $2.2 million federal BUILD grant application for traffic and pedestrian improvements.

The commission’s meeting opened with a guest presentation on the long-running leaf-composting partnership between the city and Western Kentucky University, but commissioners quickly moved to formal business. The meeting featured multiple staff presentations and a string of roll-call votes that passed by 5-0.

Why it matters: The resolution opposing state centralization of occupational-tax collections frames a key line-of-service funding issue for the city; commissioners described the local occupational tax as the largest single revenue source for the general fund and said removing local control could hamper the city’s ability to respond quickly to emergencies and infrastructure needs.

Mr. Meisel, a city staff member who presented the resolution, said the change would be “devastating” if enacted and noted the city relies on local occupational-tax revenue…