Council's city budget priorities take shape this week

In two meetings this week, Urban County Councilmembers will review, discuss and finalize their recommendations for the Mayor's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

In recent 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 the more significant requests include funding for new security equipment and personnel, along with money to support the city's fleet of vehicles and Americans with Disability Act compliance. The city must adopt a new budget by June 15th.

The Council's first budget Committee of the Whole meeting this week will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 26th. The second is at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 28th. Both meetings will take in the second-floor Council Chamber in Lexington's downtown Government Center at 200 East Main Street. You can attend the meeting in-person or watch it online via LexTV.

Councilmember Brown seeks money for LFUCG building security

At-Large Councilmember James Brown was the only Councilmember to make an individual request for funding in Mayor Gorton's proposed budget, according to meeting materials for the May 26 Budget Committee of the Whole.

In a memo, Brown asks for $141,381 to be allocated to public safety spending. The money would cover new security equipment and personnel for LFUCG building security, including:

• $110,000 to hire two additional security personnel ($55,000 per employee).
• $18,380 for two metal detectors ($9,190 per machine).
• $13,000 for a baggage scanning machine.

Brown proposed funding the expense with the beginning Fiscal Year 2027 fund balance – essentially left over money from the previous fiscal year – or out of the city's general fund budget.

In a separate request, Councilmember Brown asks for $50,000 to implement Lexington's Digital Accessibility Plan.

In March, Councilmembers reviewed a draft of the plan, which sets out several broad goals for closing Lexington's digital divide. Goals include expanding fiber optic broadband throughout Fayette County, financial assistance for qualifying households, device re-use and donation pipelines, and digital skills education.

Brown is also proposing this initiative be funded by beginning Fiscal Year 2027 fund balance or the general fund budget.

Council asks for more money for city vehicle maintenance and replacements, ADA upgrades

During the budget process, Councilmembers split up into various "link" committees to study budget items, discuss them with the city's various departments and divisions, and formulate their own recommendations.

Each link committee consists of three Councilmembers, and there are five committees in all.

Of the link recommendations Councilmembers will discuss Tuesday, the ones that impact the Mayor's proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget include the following:

General Government and Services Link

• $1.5 million from the capital reserve fund to help implement Lexington's Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan. Previously, the city hired a consultant to help update its federally-required ADA Transition Plan, which aims to improve accessibility of city parks and facilities for people with disabilities. This funding will help with implementing the consultant's recommendations.
• $1 million from the capital reserve fund to support the city's fleet of vehicles. Meeting materials show there are concerns with deferring vehicle replacement costs too far into the future, potentially costing the city more money down the road. They cite "global financial pressures" that could drive up costs if they continue.
• $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.

Environmental Quality and Public Works Link

For the city's Environmental Services division, this link is recommending:

• $25,000 to implement the Greenspace Trust Coldstream Master Plan, funded through the water quality management fund.
• $50,000 for a typology study pilot project, and $150,000 to implement a wayfinding sign program. Both could be candidates to receive money from the fund balance or the budget's "pre-fund," essentially setting aside money in the current budget year for an expense in the next.

For Traffic Engineering, this link proposes:

• An additional $250,000 for multimodal safety, essentially promoting the safety of all road users on Lexington's roads, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and motorists. It could be financed with the pre-fund or fund balance.

Social Services and Public Safety Link

For Fire and Emergency Services:

• $50,000 from the beginning Fiscal Year 2027 fund balance to create a health and wellness coordinator pilot program.

For Police:

• $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.