Correction: A previous version of this story said it was a record-breaking billion dollar budget. It is millions. The error has been corrected. (July 10, 2024)
KENTUCKY — On this week’s program Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton is our guest. She is the longest continuously serving member of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, and she is serving her second term as Lexington Mayor. She won her last election in 2022, by collecting 71% of the vote.
During this ‘In Focus Kentucky’ segment, Mayor Gorton discusses the record-breaking $532.9 million 2024-2025 fiscal year budget, which is the largest in Lexington’s history. It includes:
Public Safety - $394 million
General Government - $218 million
Environment and Energy - $172 million
Recreation, Culture and Arts - $57 million
Transportation - $40 million
Social Services and Public Health - $46 million
Housing and Development - $25 million
Community Design - $10 million
Economic Development - $5 million
Agriculture and Food Systems - $2 million
Gorton also comments on the Council's decision to override her vetoes, by a vote of 11-2, of ten LFUCG staff positions that Council added to the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.
"The veto message was really more about my view on the budget and how we should build the budget, and so it's kind of a difference in our approach to that. I work on the budget all year long, as do my administrative folks. And they certainly had the right to do that, and I respect that," said Gorton.
You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.