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Lexington’s budget 2022-2023

A wide angle shot of downtown Lexington, KY

Lexington’s 2022-23 budget has a large focus on public safety. | photo by Madeline Mele

On Tuesday afternoon, Lexington City Council Members approved Mayor Linda Gorton’s $473 million budget — the largest budget in city history — with a vote of 12-2. The budget will go into effect July 1 and is an 18% increase over the current budget of $401 million.

We know number crunching is not everyone’s cup of tea — so we’re bringing you a breakdown of some of the biggest numbers + important projects we can expect to see in the next year.

🤝 Community

  • Council approved Extended Social Resource Grants for 35 social services agencies totaling $3.8 million in these key categories — Overnight Emergency Shelter, Community Wellness & Safety, Childhood & Youth Development, and Food Insecurity & Nutritional Access. View the full list.
  • One Lexington, the city’s violence prevention program, received $375,000.
  • Mayor Gorton allotted $260,000 for a new mobile food grocery store for neighborhoods that have limited access to food.

🏗️ Development

  • $3 million fund to give zero interest loans for developers to build infill projects
  • Nonprofits have access to a $1 million program to turn abandoned property into affordable housing.

🏙️ Infrastructure

  • We can rest assured that potholes won’t be a problem thanks to $15 million that can be spent on paving roads.
  • Various infrastructure improvements will come to the Distillery District with the help of $750,000.
  • $172,658 for to improve safety with enhanced lighting around Tandy Park in downtown

📋 Council changes + additions

  • Added a total of $13 million to the budget including — $2 million for paving, $5 million for additional pay to retain public safety employees, $2.5 million to study the Versailles Road corridor, and more.

Be sure to keep an eye on CivicLex’s budget resources page + feel free to dive deeper into each section of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget.

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