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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H
Housing Trust Fund
Dedicated public fund for affordable housing development and preservation, capitalized through taxes, fees, or budget allocations. Provides grants and loans […]
Read Full Definition → Hyperscale Data Center
An extremely large data center operated by major tech companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud. These […]
Read Full Definition → I
Implicit Bias Training
Training designed to help officers recognize and reduce unconscious stereotypes and prejudices that affect decision-making. Studies show everyone has implicit […]
Read Full Definition → Inclusionary Zoning
A policy requiring developers to include affordable housing units in new residential projects, or pay into an affordable housing fund. […]
Read Full Definition → Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB)
Tax-exempt bonds issued by government to finance manufacturing facilities. Interest savings reduce project costs, attracting industrial development. Company owns facility; […]
Read Full Definition → Infrastructure Maintenance
Ongoing repair and upkeep of public assets (roads, bridges, sewers, water lines, buildings, parks) to prevent deterioration and extend useful […]
Read Full Definition → Innovation Lab
A dedicated team within government focused on testing new approaches to persistent problems, using rapid prototyping, user research, and experimentation. […]
Read Full Definition → Insurance Premium Tax
Tax on insurance policies (auto, home, life, etc.). The state collects it and shares a portion with cities. You don’t […]
Read Full Definition → Intergovernmental Revenue
Money the city receives from state and federal governments, usually through grants. Like when the federal government gives money for […]
Read Full Definition → Intersession Programs
Educational and recreational activities offered during the breaks in year-round school calendars. Provides academic enrichment, remediation for struggling students, and […]
Read Full Definition → J
Jefferson County Attorney
An independently elected official (not appointed by the mayor) who serves as legal advisor to Louisville Metro Government and prosecutes […]
Read Full Definition → Jefferson County Clerk
– Website: jeffersoncountyclerk.org – Phone: (502) 574-6100 – Address: 527 W Jefferson St, Louisville, KY 40202
Read Full Definition → Jefferson County Clerk (Election Duties)
The elected official responsible for conducting elections in Jefferson County, including maintaining voter registration records, providing ballots, managing polling locations, […]
Read Full Definition → Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS)
The public school district serving Louisville Metro and Jefferson County, with nearly 97,000 students, making it Kentucky’s largest school district […]
Read Full Definition → Juvenile Justice
Separate legal system for people under 18, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. Juvenile records typically sealed at age 18, giving young […]
Read Full Definition → K
Kentucky Attorney General
– Election Fraud Hotline: 1-800-328-VOTE (8683) – Website: ag.ky.gov
Read Full Definition → Kentucky State Board of Elections
– Website: elect.ky.gov – Phone: (502) 573-7100
Read Full Definition → Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Measurable goals used to track program success. Example: “Reduce violent crime by 15% in Year 2” is a KPI.
Read Full Definition → L
League of Women Voters of Louisville
– Nonpartisan voter education – Website: lwvlouisville.org – Publishes voter guides
Read Full Definition → Legal Aid
Free or low-cost civil legal services for low-income people who can’t afford attorneys. Legal aid helps with housing (eviction defense, […]
Read Full Definition → Legal Aid Society
– Free legal help for low-income residents – Phone: (502) 584-1254 – Website: laslou.org
Read Full Definition → Legislative Branch
Metro Council that makes laws and approves budgets. The “rule-makers” of government.
Read Full Definition → LG&E (Louisville Gas and Electric)
The investor-owned utility providing electricity and natural gas to Louisville and surrounding areas. LG&E is regulated by the Kentucky Public […]
Read Full Definition → Line Item
A specific spending category in the budget (e.g., “Police Officer Salaries” or “Park Maintenance”). The more line items you see, […]
Read Full Definition → Literacy Programs
Educational services that teach reading and writing skills to children and adults, ranging from early childhood literacy initiatives to adult […]
Read Full Definition → Living Wage
The hourly wage needed for a full-time worker to afford basic necessities (housing, food, healthcare, transportation) in a specific area. […]
Read Full Definition → Local Hiring
Policy requiring or incentivizing contractors and businesses to hire residents from the local area, particularly for projects using public funds […]
Read Full Definition → LouieStat
Louisville Metro Government’s performance management system that tracks key metrics across departments to improve accountability, identify problems early, and make […]
Read Full Definition → Louisville Courier-Journal
– Local news and government coverage – Website: courier-journal.com
Read Full Definition → Louisville Fire Department
The fire protection and emergency medical services agency serving Louisville Metro with firefighters operating from fire stations across the county. […]
Read Full Definition → Louisville Forward
Louisville Metro Government’s economic development agency, responsible for attracting new businesses, supporting existing companies, and managing workforce development programs. Louisville […]
Read Full Definition → Louisville Free Public Library
– Free access to government documents – Computers and internet access – Help navigating government websites —
Read Full Definition → Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD)
The law enforcement agency serving Louisville Metro with sworn officers and civilian employees. LMPD’s adopted FY2026-27 budget is about $268 […]
Read Full Definition → Louisville Water Company
A publicly-owned utility that provides drinking water to nearly one million people in Louisville Metro and surrounding counties (Louisville Water […]
Read Full Definition → M
Magnet School
A public school with specialized curriculum or teaching approach (STEM, arts, Montessori, etc.) designed to attract diverse students from across […]
Read Full Definition → Main Street Program
National model for revitalizing historic commercial districts through: organization (creating stakeholder groups), promotion (marketing the district), design (improving aesthetics), and […]
Read Full Definition → Maternal Health
The health of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Maternal health outcomes in the US lag other developed […]
Read Full Definition → Mayor-Council Government
A form of local government where voters elect both a mayor (chief executive) and a council (legislature) separately. Louisville uses […]
Read Full Definition → Medicaid Expansion and Crime
Research finding that expanding healthcare access through Medicaid reduces crime rates, as people with health coverage are less likely to […]
Read Full Definition → Megawatt (MW)
A unit of electrical power equal to one million watts, used to measure data center electricity consumption. One megawatt can […]
Read Full Definition → Mental Health Crisis Response Team
Social workers or mental health professionals paired with police officers (or responding alone when appropriate) to mental health emergencies. When […]
Read Full Definition → Mental Health Services
Counseling, therapy, psychiatric care for mental health conditions. Wellness centers provide this, reducing reliance on emergency rooms and police.
Read Full Definition → Metrics
Measurements used to assess program effectiveness. Crime rates, ER visit rates, graduation rates, etc.
Read Full Definition → Metro Council
Louisville’s 26-member legislative body that passes laws and approves the budget. Like city council in other cities, but called “Metro […]
Read Full Definition → Metro Council Districts
The 26 geographic areas that each elect one member to Louisville Metro Council. Districts are redrawn every 10 years after […]
Read Full Definition → Metro Employee Compensation Plan
A comprehensive plan to provide competitive compensation and benefits to Louisville Metro government employees, ensuring fair wages that attract and […]
Read Full Definition → Metro Ethics Commission
An independent board that investigates complaints of ethical violations by Metro government employees and officials, including conflicts of interest and […]
Read Full Definition → Metro Parks System
Louisville’s public parks system managing parks including Cherokee, Iroquois, Shawnee, and Seneca parks plus numerous neighborhood parks, greenways, community centers, […]
Read Full Definition → Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD)
A special-purpose government agency that provides wastewater treatment and stormwater management for Louisville Metro and surrounding areas. MSD operates independently […]
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