Council moves ahead with spending priorities for security, ADA upgrades

Mayor Linda Gorton's proposed $546 million General Fund budget is moving closer to approval, and this week, Lexington's Urban County Council advanced its own spending priorities totaling more than $2.75 million.

Over the last several weeks, Councilmembers have been meeting in "link" committees to tackle various parts of the budget and develop their own ideas for Lexington's spending priorities.

Some of Council's more significant requests include new security equipment and personnel for Lexington's downtown Government Center. Others include extra money to support the city's fleet of vehicles and efforts to make Lexington's parks and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities.

The city must adopt a new budget by June 15th. The amended budget is next headed to a first reading at a June 4th Council meeting. A final vote will come when the Mayor's proposed budget is up for a second reading at a June 9th.

During Council's Committee of the Whole meeting on May 26th, its members advanced the following spending priorities for the Mayor's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027, which begins July 1:

• $1.5 million in capital reserve funding to help implement Lexington's Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan. The city has hired a consultant to help update its federally-required ADA transition plan, which focuses on improving access to city parks and facilities for people with disabilities. This is part of a long-term initiative that spans many years, but this initial round of funding will help get the consultant's recommendations off the ground.
• $1 million from the capital reserve to help with costs for the city's fleet of vehicles. According to meeting materials, there are concerns with delaying vehicle replacements too far into the future, potentially costing the city more money in the long-run. They cite "global financial pressures" that could drive up costs if they continue.
• $135,098 for new security equipment and two additional security personnel for Lexington's Government Center. This is a spending priority that At-Large Councilmember James Brown brought on behalf of the Council. Brown told CivicLex the request comes after some Councilmembers have received death threats in recent years, along with political violence in the news. $103,718 would go toward adding the two new positions, while $31,380 is set aside for two metal detectors and a baggage scanner. Funding for the additional personnel would come from the beginning Fiscal Year 2027 fund balance – essentially carried over reserves from the previous fiscal year. The capital reserve would be tapped to fund the equipment purchase.
• $50,000 for Fire and Emergency Services to create a health and wellness coordinator pilot program. According to city officials, this would mirror a similar program already available to the Lexington Police Department, offering professional guidance and counseling services. The initiative would be funded from the beginning Fiscal Year 2027 fund balance.
• $25,000 from the beginning Fiscal Year 2027 fund balance to support the Office of the Citizen's Advocate. This office investigates complaints from Lexington residents about the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. It functions much like an ombudsman. However, the office's case load and case complexity have increased. That increased case load has triggered a cutback in community outreach. The additional $25,000 will offer temporary clerical and administrative support for the office.
• $25,000 to implement the Greenspace Trust Coldstream Master Plan, funded through the water quality management fund.
• $20,000 from the beginning Fiscal Year 2027 fund balance to support the Police Activities League. This program connects youth and law enforcement through recreational, educational, and mentoring programs.