Lexington council approved the new city budget. What’s in it?
The Lexington Urban County Council approved Lexington’s largest city budget yet on June 9.
While it’s the largest in city history, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the most exciting.
Mayor Linda Gorton has stressed that the budget, which she proposed in April, is tight due to a slowing economy. Lexington’s revenue continues to grow year over year.
Though the immediate post-COVID years saw major boosts to revenue and hundreds of millions in funds from the federal government, the fiscal year 2027 budget projects only a 4% increase in revenue compared to the fiscal year 2026 budget.
The new 2027 fiscal year runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Still, Gorton said the budget “meets many needs in our community, and importantly, keeps our sights set on a successful future.”
Some items she highlighted in her April budget address include: • $5.1 million for new trucks, salt and staffing to address the city’s increasingly challenging winter weather • A new development liaison position to help developers navigate the city’s planning processes • An expanded security contract of $2.6 million that will boost digital evidence storage for the Lexington Police Department and allow residents to upload digital evidence related to a police investigation • Two new positions to staff the new senior center at Shillito Park
The budget also includes just over $5 million for the city’s affordable housing fund. An ordinance passed by the council in 2023 requires the mayor to reserve 1% of the city’s general fund revenue for the affordable housing fund.
The council added roughly $2.75 million in additional spending to the mayor’s proposed budget, though more than $2.5 million of the additional expenses come from a dedicated capital savings fund.
Those expenses added by the council include: • Two new security officer positions for city hall, totaling $103,718 • Two metal detectors and a baggage scanner for city hall, totaling $31,380 • $1 million in additional funding for new city fleet vehicles • $25,000 for temporary staffing support for the city’s Citizens’ Advocate Office
In 2024, Gorton vetoed 10 new positions the council added to the fiscal year 2025 budget, citing concerns over slowing revenue growth. The council overrode that veto.
However, Gorton did not veto two new positions the council added to the fiscal year 2026 budget.
Susan Straub, a spokesperson for the mayor, did not immediately respond to a question from the Herald-Leader on whether Gorton will veto the two security positions added by the council to the fiscal year 2027 budget.
