LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton delivered her State Of the City/County address on Tuesday. 

What You Need To Know

  • Lexington mayor Linda Gorton gives State of City/County address

  • She anticipates a $36 million deficit in the city's budget but is encouraged by the economy

  • More jobs are coming to Lexington through Baptist Health, Dixie Cups, and Amazon

  • Gorton also created a group that will help address systematic racism in the city

 

She touched on various topics in the 30-minute virtual address starting with COVID-19 and its impact on government.

Gorton is hoping the virus will soon be a thing of the past. It arrived in Lexington in March 2020 and the city braced for the worst. 

“We projected that Lexington’s city budget which is highly dependent on the payroll tax and a fee on business net profits would be crippled by losses from pandemic’s impact on our economy and by the additional cost of fighting the virus,” Gorton said.

Gorton said they estimated a $36 million shortfall this year and initially relied heavily on the city’s reserve funds to balance the budget.

Despite the pandemic, Gorton said Lexington’s revenue is doing better than expected.

“The economy performed better than expected. All of the facts aren’t in yet but so far we are doing better than we anticipated,” Gorton said.

2021 will also see new businesses coming to Fayette County.

Gorton said Baptist Health is expanding by adding another medical campus which will add 600 more jobs — the same number of jobs that Amazon will bring into town.

Fifty additional jobs will also come from Georgia-Pacific, makers of Dixie Cups.

“After 2021, all Dixie Cups will be made in Lexington,” Gorton said.

The mayor also mentioned protests which took place last summer.

“Our city took an unflinching look at itself in the mirror. And when it was over, the rose-covered glasses had come off and a lot of us didn’t like what we saw,” Gorton said. “We realize that this was a precious opportunity to right some wrongs. to root out systemic racism in our city.”

This led to the forming of a Racial Justice and Equality Commission group of 70 people.

“They produced a 68-page report with 54 recommendations that touch all corners of our community,” Gorton said

Some of the recommendations include creating a program that provides rental assistance, coverage of utility costs and providing more access to COVID-19 testing in areas disproportionately affected by the virus.

Gorton also gave updates on each department and announcements.

“I am proposing a new government department focusing on housing which will be part of this year’s budget proposal,” Gorton said.

The mayor also announced that she is appointing a former council member who will oversee a city hall team on the recommendations made by the Racial Justice and Equality Commission.

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