local option

noun

1. a right of choice exercised by a minor political division, as a county, especially as to allowing the sale of liquor.

local option

noun

1. (esp in Scotland, New Zealand, and the US) the privilege of a municipality, county, etc, to determine by referendum whether a particular activity, esp the sale of liquor, shall be permitted there

Word History and Origins

Origin of local option¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

While the district has other sources of money, including proceeds from the state’s relatively new corporate tax for education and its voter-approved local option levy, those funds are being used to pay for elements the teachers union wants, such as more teachers and more student mental health supports.

From Seattle Times

The voter-approved local option levy pays for 800 teaching positions, an advantage few other districts enjoy.

From Seattle Times

Fife Council said it was working to explore other options to keep the family together until a more local option becomes available.

From BBC

Two funding options that have been put forward at the state level include a governor-proposed $4 billion bond referendum and the Affordable Homes Act, House Bill 1628, which creates a 1% increase in real estate taxes paid on the sale of properties for amounts over $5 million and a new local option to levy a 0.25% tax on real estate sales to address housing and homelessness.

From Seattle Times

But the group is particularly set against the local option in HB 1628, which would affect sales under $5 million, Gorton said.

From Seattle Times