Lexington city leaders are examining the effects of spending constraints. Last weeks’ review included a high-profile city service affecting most everyone in town.
The location and timing of new asphalt, also referred to as pavement management, came before the council’s Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee. About $8 million dollars was included in the current budget for paving, down from almost twice that a few years ago. Council Member Jennifer Mossotti told Public Works Commissioner Nancy Albright it’s a challenging situation.
Vice Mayor Steve Kay said there are a number of funding issues to consider. “It’s about roads. It’s about deferred maintenance. It’s about a new city hall. It’s about paying for lights. It’s all of the things that we have deferred and by deferring them in the long run it cost ourselves more. That’s the conversation that I would like council and this community to have,” explained Kay.
Kay added it’s time for a community wide discussion to examine the budget and determine what is affordable and what is not.
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