Lexington city council members are considering ways to restore funding to outside agencies cut in Mayor Linda Gorton’s budget recommendation. The city faces a projected $40 million revenue shortfall in the coming year.
Vice Mayor Steve Kay suggested during Thursday’s committee of the whole meeting to restore funding to those groups. “We don’t have the luxury of waiting until we know everything. I don’t think we’ll know everything in August. I think our responsibility is to look at the situation we face today and to replace the funding that should have been in the budget in the first place,” said Kay.
If need be, Kay suggested that money come from a contingency fund.
Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Director Polly Ruddick says agencies serving the homeless have not seen any federal relief funding yet. Council also debated ways to continue work on four different affordable housing projects with tight finances.
Mayoral Chief of Staff Tyler Scott said the city expects to receive $5 million in a first round of coronavirus relief funding by about July. A budget vote is expected in June.?
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