In a speech before Urban County Council, Lexington Mayor Jim Gray laid out his plans for a budget that would run the city from July through next June.
In his address, Gray stated a desire to lower the city’s debt service – money owed to pay off bonds – by 2016 to the point it was less than 10 percent of the city’s overall revenue.
“We have now experienced a full year of employee health insurance reform, including 12 months of operating our employee-retiree clinic and pharmacy. We estimate annual savings at $10 million, and growing. That $10 million includes a savings of $1 million at the health clinic and pharmacy,” Gray’s speech stated.
Other main points of Gray’s proposed budget, that will now go to council for approval, include:
• Mayor’s Proposed FY14 Budget is a $297 spending plan, a 2.7 percent increase over the FY13 forecast.
• No broad-based tax increases.
• Limited bonding … $15.7 million … to invest in infrastructure.
• Funding for 35 new firefighters, 28 funded through the Safer Grant, and the addition of another emergency medical ambulance.
• Funding for the Homelessness Office to coordinate services and intervene where needed, a goal identified by the Mayor’s Commission on Homelessness.
• $5 million to purchase land and design a new senior citizens center.
• $150,000 for multi-use fields to accommodate soccer, football, field hockey, lacrosse and more.
• Funding for youth activities including the ‘I Do’ initiative and camps for children with mental and physical disabilities.
• $117,000 to improve maintenance of greenways in neighborhoods.
• $300,000 in the old courthouse to make critical repairs while the city plans for its future.
• Invest $250,000 to match private fund-raising to update the Kentucky Theatre.
• Increase strategic police overtime funds for neighborhoods.
• Improve public safety by improving their equipment – police cruisers, fire trucks, ambulances, radios, clothing and cardiac monitors.
• Add a Chief Information Officer, a commissioner-level position, to lead the city’s information technology initiatives, strategically and operationally, with a focus on transparency and innovation.