Written by Don Byrd
A controversial religious theme park planned for Grant County, Kentucky raised new issues regarding the use of taxpayer funds. Before, the question was about state-funded tax incentives for the facility. Now, the issue is the use of tax money to upgrade the roads leading to the park’s site.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington D.C. non-profit, is protesting the legislature’s decision to include $2 million for improvements to KY 36, a project included in road budgets proposed by Gov. Steve Beshear and approved by the House and Senate.
The $2 million would be used to purchase right-of-way and pre-construction work on an interchange with I-75.
Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, said the Kentucky Constitution bans the use of taxpayer dollars to support religion. Section 5 of the Constitution says taxpayers may not be forced to “contribute to the erection or maintenance” of any place of worship.
You can read AU’s press release on the issue here.
