Public weighs in on Mayor Linda Gorton’s proposed budget in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council meeting to discuss Mayor Linda Gorton’s proposed budget of over $531,000,000.
The public hearing over the proposed budget heard from those in the NAACP and the Fayette Alliance.

“Surviving victims of gun violence, wear the hearts on their sleeves, and unfortunately, a lot of those hearts are bloody and with pain,” said Whit Whitaker, president of the Lexington-Fayette NAACP.

Those in the urban county council hearing from members in the public on where they believe money should be invested on Thursday night.

“We’ve identified gaps with services and coverages for the community, particularly victims and survivors of gun violence. Secondly, we want to engage and collaborate with community partners to proactively address these issues to continue, which continue to be an increasing danger within our community. And thirdly, we want to support LFUCG, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council Group, county government and the law enforcement by joining and building solid airtight partnerships with specific community partners,” added Whitaker.

Whitaker with the NAACP says they’re proposing the budget include a commitment to a three year plan to help further reduce gun violence in the community.

Adding that more investment is needed in the city’s food insecurity program.

“It benefits a lot of the surviving victims of gun violence for groceries and things like that,” he adds.

Another member of the public, Rick Day says, “I am going to suggest that you add to this budget a sum of money to correct the inequities and other problems in your room county governments compensation system.”

Meantime Fayette Alliance also weighing in, “Fayette Alliance would recommend that the infrastructure investment fund be expanded to allow funds to be used for housing development, as opposed to only economic development projects, as well as reestablishing the $3 million budget in this fund,” added Brittany Roethemeier, the executive director of Fayette Alliance.

The full council can still make changes to the budget, they have until the end of June to do so.

For a list of a breakdown of the budget, click here.