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LOUISVILLE, Ky– It was a full room– Nearly 5 dozen state lawmakers meeting with hundreds of local officials in Louisville. They got together Wednesday as the legislature’s joint state & local government committees, at the Kentucky Association of Counties’ annual convention. The idea– to learn more about local concerns heading into the 2010 legislative session. 

House Democratic floor leader Rocky Adkins says legislators welcome such opportunities, since county officials are able to be much more in touch with local issues. He expected to hear counties’ concerns over the state budget, jails and how to reduce their costs, ethics rules for property value administrators, and more. 

Incoming KACo President Rick Smith says he likes talking about local issues with lawmakers. He says one that needs immediate attention is a long-standing inequity in state rules on local occupational taxes. Smith says many counties also favor the lifting of a certain sales tax exemption, to make it more fair.

Here’s a better look at the committee…