Voter Education Glossary
Understanding Louisville Metro Government & Policy
This comprehensive glossary explains 375 terms related to Louisville Metro government, policy, and civic engagement. Each term includes Louisville-specific context and explains why it matters to you as a voter.
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Campaign Contribution Limits
The maximum amount individuals and organizations can donate to political candidates. In Kentucky, individuals can give up to $2,000 per […]
Read Full Definition → Campaign Finance
The system regulating how political candidates raise and spend money for their campaigns. In Kentucky, candidates must report all contributions […]
Read Full Definition → Capital Budget
Money spent on long-term assets like buildings, roads, and equipment that last multiple years. If it lasts longer than one […]
Read Full Definition → Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
Louisville Metro’s multi-year plan for major infrastructure investments like roads, sewers, parks, buildings, and equipment typically costing over $100,000 and […]
Read Full Definition → Capital Outlay
Purchases of equipment, vehicles, or infrastructure that last multiple years. A new fire truck is capital outlay. Gasoline for the […]
Read Full Definition → Cash Bail Reform
Changes to the bail system to reduce jailing people simply because they’re poor. Traditional cash bail requires defendants to pay […]
Read Full Definition → CEDAW
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. UN treaty establishing standards for women’s rights that Dave […]
Read Full Definition → Chronic Disease Management
Ongoing medical care, monitoring, and lifestyle support for long-term conditions like diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and hypertension. Effective chronic disease […]
Read Full Definition → City-County Merger
Louisville’s 2003 consolidation of the old city of Louisville government with Jefferson County government into one ‘Louisville Metro’ government. The […]
Read Full Definition → Civic Engagement
Active participation in community and government through voting, attending meetings, volunteering, organizing, advocacy, and working to improve communities. Civic engagement […]
Read Full Definition → Civic Technology (Civic Tech)
Technology tools and platforms that enable citizen engagement with government, facilitate community organizing, or improve civic life. Examples include apps […]
Read Full Definition → Civilian Oversight
Giving non-police citizens authority to review police policies, investigate complaints, and recommend reforms—providing an independent check on police power. Civilian […]
Read Full Definition → Civilian Oversight Board
An independent body of community members with authority to review police policies, investigate complaints, recommend discipline, and ensure accountability. Effective […]
Read Full Definition → Clawback Provision
A contract clause that allows government to recover tax incentives or grants if a company fails to meet promised job […]
Read Full Definition → Clearance Rate
The percentage of reported crimes that result in an arrest or case closure. Higher clearance rates indicate effective investigation and […]
Read Full Definition → Climate Action Plan
A strategic roadmap outlining how a city will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate change impacts like extreme […]
Read Full Definition → Cloud Computing
The delivery of computing services (servers, storage, databases, software) over the internet rather than from local devices. When you use […]
Read Full Definition → Co-Responder Model
Police officer + mental health professional responding together to certain calls. Better outcomes, safer for everyone.
Read Full Definition → Co-Responder Program
A model pairing police officers with mental health clinicians or social workers to respond together to mental health, substance abuse, […]
Read Full Definition → Collateral Consequences
Legal and social penalties that continue after people serve criminal sentences, including barriers to employment, housing, education, voting, professional licenses, […]
Read Full Definition → Collective Bargaining Agreement
The contract between Louisville Metro Government and the police union (FOP) governing officer pay, benefits, disciplinary procedures, and working conditions. […]
Read Full Definition → Colocation Facility
A data center where multiple companies rent space to house their own servers and equipment, sharing the building’s power, cooling, […]
Read Full Definition → Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)
A system where stormwater runoff and sewage flow through the same pipes to treatment plants. During heavy rain, these combined […]
Read Full Definition → Committee System
The organizational structure where Metro Council members serve on specialized committees that review legislation before full council votes. Louisville has […]
Read Full Definition → Commonwealth Attorney
The chief prosecutor for each Kentucky county, elected to prosecute felony crimes. In Jefferson County, the Commonwealth Attorney’s office handles […]
Read Full Definition → Community Benefits Agreement (CBA)
Legally-binding contract between developers and community organizations outlining specific benefits the project will provide: local jobs, affordable housing, environmental protections, […]
Read Full Definition → Community Center
Public facilities offering recreation programs, meeting spaces, classes, and social services for neighborhood residents. Community centers typically provide gyms, fitness […]
Read Full Definition → Community Detective
Police detective assigned to a specific district focused on preventing crime through community relationships, not just solving crimes after they […]
Read Full Definition → Community Development
Efforts to improve the economic, social, and environmental conditions of specific neighborhoods through resident-led initiatives, nonprofit organizations, and government programs. […]
Read Full Definition → Community Development Corporation (CDC)
Nonprofit organizations focused on revitalizing specific geographic communities (typically low-income neighborhoods) through affordable housing development, economic development, community organizing, and […]
Read Full Definition → Community Engagement
Meaningful involvement of community members in government decisions affecting their neighborhoods—going beyond information-sharing to genuine collaboration and shared power. Authentic […]
Read Full Definition → Community Health Worker
Trusted community members trained to provide health education, connect neighbors to services, advocate for community health needs, and bridge the […]
Read Full Definition → Community Input
Opportunities for residents to provide feedback on programs and priorities. Monthly community meetings, participatory budgeting, etc.
Read Full Definition → Community Land Trust (CLT)
A nonprofit organization that owns land permanently, leasing it to homeowners or developers under long-term renewable ground leases with resale […]
Read Full Definition → Community Organizing
Bringing neighbors together to identify shared concerns, build collective power, and take action to improve their community. Community organizing empowers […]
Read Full Definition → Community Policing
A philosophy where police and residents work together as partners to solve problems and prevent crime, not just respond to […]
Read Full Definition → Community Resilience
Communities’ ability to withstand and recover from shocks (disasters, economic downturns, public health crises) through strong social networks, diverse economies, […]
Read Full Definition → Community Trust
How much residents trust police and government. Mini substations increase trust by average of 35% in cities using this model.
Read Full Definition → Community Wealth Building
Economic development strategies that build assets and ownership in communities rather than extracting wealth to distant shareholders. Community wealth building […]
Read Full Definition → Community Wellness Center
One-stop facility providing primary healthcare (nurse practitioners), mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, social services navigation, and community programs. Think […]
Read Full Definition → Competitive Pay
Salaries comparable to private sector jobs or surrounding jurisdictions. Dave’s budget brings Louisville Metro salaries in line with surrounding counties […]
Read Full Definition → Complete Streets
Streets designed for all users—pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers—not just cars. Includes sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops, crosswalks, and […]
Read Full Definition → Conflict Mediation
Community-based dispute resolution that addresses conflicts before they turn violent. Trained mediators help resolve disputes without police or criminal justice […]
Read Full Definition → Consent Decree
A court-enforceable agreement between a police department and the U.S. Department of Justice requiring specific reforms after a federal investigation […]
Read Full Definition → Constitutional Policing
Law enforcement practices that strictly adhere to Fourth Amendment (search/seizure), Fifth Amendment (due process), and Fourteenth Amendment (equal protection) requirements. […]
Read Full Definition → Cooling Infrastructure
The systems data centers use to prevent servers from overheating, including chillers, cooling towers, and air conditioning that can use […]
Read Full Definition → Cost Savings
Money saved through prevention vs. crisis response. Wellness centers save $2-3 for every $1 spent. Youth programs save ~$150,000 per […]
Read Full Definition → Cost-Benefit Analysis
Comparing the costs of a program to its benefits to determine if it’s worth the investment. Dave’s budget programs all […]
Read Full Definition → Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)
Specially-trained police officers who respond to mental health crises using de-escalation, communication, and connection to services rather than force or […]
Read Full Definition → Cultural Competence
The ability of individuals and organizations to effectively interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, recognizing cultural differences, avoiding assumptions, […]
Read Full Definition → Current Administration’s Budget
The current administration’s approved $1.2 billion budget for FY 2025-2026. Traditional approach with centralized services and reactive policing.
Read Full Definition → Cybersecurity
Protection of computer systems, networks, and data from digital attacks, unauthorized access, and damage. Government cybersecurity must protect resident data […]
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