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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S
Service Quality Metrics
Measurable standards for how well government services are delivered. Examples: Average response times, customer satisfaction ratings, facility cleanliness scores, program […]
Read Full Definition → Single-Family Zoning
Zoning laws restricting areas to detached single-family homes only, prohibiting duplexes, apartments, and other housing types. Originated in 1920s as […]
Read Full Definition → Sliding Scale Healthcare
Medical services priced based on patients’ ability to pay, with low-income patients paying reduced fees and the very poor receiving […]
Read Full Definition → Small Business Incubator
Facility providing startups and entrepreneurs with affordable workspace, business services, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Reduces failure rates by supporting businesses […]
Read Full Definition → Smart City
Using technology, data, and connectivity to improve city services, infrastructure efficiency, and quality of life. Smart city applications include intelligent […]
Read Full Definition → SNAP Benefits (Food Stamps)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly benefits (loaded on EBT cards) to help low-income individuals and families purchase food. […]
Read Full Definition → Social Capital
The networks, relationships, and trust among community members that enable collective action, mutual support, and cooperation. Strong social capital means […]
Read Full Definition → Social Enterprise
Businesses organized to achieve social missions (reducing poverty, employing people with barriers, environmental protection) while generating revenue through selling goods […]
Read Full Definition → Social Services Navigation
Helping people access programs they qualify for (food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance, job training). Wellness centers help residents navigate the […]
Read Full Definition → Solid Waste Management
The collection, transportation, processing, recycling, and disposal of garbage, yard waste, and recyclables. Louisville Metro provides curbside collection of trash, […]
Read Full Definition → Standing Committee
A permanent Metro Council committee that meets regularly to review specific types of legislation and oversee certain city departments. Unlike […]
Read Full Definition → Stormwater Fee
A charge on property owners based on impervious surface area (roofs, driveways, parking lots) to fund stormwater management infrastructure. Unlike […]
Read Full Definition → Stormwater Management
Systems and practices that control rainwater runoff to prevent flooding, reduce pollution, and protect water quality. Traditional stormwater management uses […]
Read Full Definition → Straight-Ticket Voting
The option to vote for all candidates from one political party by making a single mark on the ballot. Kentucky […]
Read Full Definition → Street Outreach
Violence interruption teams that work directly with high-risk individuals in communities to prevent conflicts and reduce violence. Trained community members […]
Read Full Definition → Strong Mayor System
A mayor-council structure where the mayor has substantial executive powers including appointing department heads, preparing the budget, and vetoing legislation. […]
Read Full Definition → Substance Abuse Treatment
Medical and counseling services for addiction. Much more effective and cheaper than jail for non-violent drug offenses.
Read Full Definition → Summer Learning Programs
Educational activities during summer break that prevent ‘summer slide’—the learning loss that occurs when students are out of school for […]
Read Full Definition → Summer Slide
Academic learning loss that occurs during extended summer breaks, particularly devastating for low-income students. Research shows disadvantaged students lose 2-3 […]
Read Full Definition → Super PAC
A Political Action Committee that can raise and spend unlimited money to support or oppose candidates, but cannot coordinate directly […]
Read Full Definition → Superintendent
The chief executive officer of a school district, hired by the school board to manage daily operations, implement board policies, […]
Read Full Definition → Surplus
When revenue exceeds spending. Extra money can go to reserves or one-time projects. Dave’s budget maintains healthy reserves.
Read Full Definition → Sustainability Office
A dedicated government department that coordinates environmental and sustainability initiatives across all city operations, implements climate action plans, tracks progress […]
Read Full Definition → Swimming Pool Access
Availability of public swimming facilities for recreation, exercise, water safety education, and cooling during summer heat. Public pools provide free […]
Read Full Definition → T
TARC (Transit Authority of River City)
Louisville’s public bus system, providing 2.8 million rides annually across 50+ routes. Governed by independent authority, funded by Metro government, […]
Read Full Definition → Tax Base
The total value of everything that can be taxed (property, income, sales, etc.). A growing tax base means the city […]
Read Full Definition → Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
A development tool where future property tax increases from a project are used to finance current improvements. The area is […]
Read Full Definition → Teacher Recruitment and Retention
Strategies to attract qualified teachers to the profession and keep them in the classroom rather than leaving for other careers. […]
Read Full Definition → Technology Procurement
The process government uses to purchase technology systems, software, and services. Traditional procurement emphasizes lowest bid and rigid specifications written […]
Read Full Definition → Tenant Rights
Legal protections for renters including: habitable conditions, privacy, anti-discrimination, fair eviction procedures, security deposit protections, and retaliation prohibitions. Stronger in […]
Read Full Definition → The Difference
Not the amount (both $1.2B), but HOW it’s spent: – Current administration: Centralized police precincts → Biggers: 63 neighborhood substations […]
Read Full Definition → Title IX
Federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding. Covers athletics, sexual harassment, and equal educational opportunity. Dave’s […]
Read Full Definition → Traffic Calming
Street design techniques slowing vehicles and improving safety: speed humps, curb extensions, raised crosswalks, chicanes, roundabouts. Makes streets safer for […]
Read Full Definition → Traffic Stop Data Collection
Systematically recording demographics, reason for stop, search occurrence, and outcomes of all police traffic stops to identify patterns of racial […]
Read Full Definition → Transfer
Moving money from one fund to another. Sometimes confusing, but it’s just internal accounting to get money where it needs […]
Read Full Definition → Transit-Oriented Development
Compact, mixed-use development near public transit stations designed to increase ridership and reduce car dependence. Includes housing, retail, offices within […]
Read Full Definition → Transparency
Making government operations, decisions, and budgets open and accessible to the public. Dave’s budget is the most transparent in Louisville […]
Read Full Definition → Transparency Dashboard
Public website showing real-time budget data, program outcomes, and spending. Dave commits to creating this.
Read Full Definition → Trauma Support
Counseling and services for individuals who have experienced violence, abuse, or other traumatic events. Part of violence prevention programs – […]
Read Full Definition → Trauma-Informed Care
Approach that recognizes how trauma affects people and provides appropriate support. Especially important for youth programs and violence intervention.
Read Full Definition → Tree Canopy
The layer of leaves, branches, and stems of trees that cover the ground when viewed from above, measured as percentage […]
Read Full Definition → Turnover Rate
Percentage of employees who leave their jobs each year. High turnover costs money in recruitment and training. Louisville currently loses […]
Read Full Definition → U
Uptime
The percentage of time a data center’s systems remain operational without interruption. Enterprise data centers target 99.99% uptime (‘four nines’), […]
Read Full Definition → Urban Forestry
Management and care of trees in cities and suburbs, including planting new trees, maintaining existing trees, removing hazardous trees, and […]
Read Full Definition → Urban Heat Island Effect
The phenomenon where cities are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to dark pavement, rooftops, and lack of vegetation […]
Read Full Definition → Use of Force Continuum
A framework showing escalating levels of force officers can use in response to resistance, from verbal commands to deadly force. […]
Read Full Definition → Use of Force Policy
Written rules governing when and how police can use physical force, weapons, or restraints against people. LMPD’s use of force […]
Read Full Definition → Utility Rates
The prices charged for electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer services, typically measured per unit (kilowatt-hour for electricity, gallon or […]
Read Full Definition → V
Veto
The mayor’s power to reject an ordinance passed by Metro Council. Council can override a veto with a supermajority vote.
Read Full Definition → Veto Power
The mayor’s authority to reject legislation passed by Metro Council. The mayor has 10 days to veto an ordinance after […]
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