The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council passed the city’s next yearly budget during a Tuesday meeting.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton originally proposed a $546 million budget in April, with small increases in revenues and expenses. She previously characterized it as a “tight budget” because of economic challenges.
“This year, our budget is challenging, just like budgets in your household are challenging. Budgets at the state level, budgets at the national level, because we've all seen what's happening in our economy,” she said at the time.
Of that number, $300 million is going to support public safety services like the police and fire departments.
The budget also includes $5.1 million to address winter weather, roughly $2 million increase from one year ago. The increase follows two consecutive years of crippling storms and criticism over the city’s response. The city is also spending $13 million on street paving and maintenance.
Lexington is investing $5 million in its Affordable Housing Fund, spending $2.2 million on winter warming operations and spending $1.66 million for Homelessness Prevention and Intervention.
Lexington is also adding a new development liaison position in city government to address the city’s housing shortage and two staffers for a new senior center near Shillito Park.
Last month, council members added $2.75 million worth of their own budget items. Those include $100,000 toward security upgrades at city hall, $1.5 million toward adding accessibility features to Lexington’s parks and public spaces and $1 million to fund the city’s vehicle fleet.
Lexington’s next fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2027.
