Besides bringing springlike weather, April also signals that time of year when local governments start putting their budgets together. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is scheduled to deliver her budget address next week.
The mayor will offer her spending suggestions during the April 13th speech. Lexington City Council Budget Committee Chair Amanda Mays Bledsoe expects recommendations to restore funding in a number of areas. In what could almost be considered a second budget, Mays Bledsoe said the city expects well over $100 million in federal stimulus money. “Lexington is anticipating about $123 million in that bucket of money if you will. And we’re expecting the treasury to give guidance probably hopefully by the first of May on how we can spend that bucket,” said Mays Bledsoe.
Mays Bledsoe said she thinks the federal funding is best used to pay for non-recurring expenses. The committee chair noted city revenues over the past year have been better than anticipated, which offer some confidence in putting together the budget that becomes effective this July first. The district ten council representative added the unknown is how city revenues will perform next fiscal year.
Scheduled Tuesday during the council work session is a presentation on how to return to in-person government meetings at city hall.
Here's more of the conversation with Lexington Council Member Amanda Mays Bledsoe on budgetary matters:
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