Expenditures

PUBLIC SAFETY: Pay for firefighters, police, EMS and correctional officers will be boosted about five percent and additional public safety personnel will be hired. More than half of the general fund will be invested in public safety.

"RAINY DAY" FUND: A number of councilmembers support depositing a portion of the FY 05 budget surplus into the "rainy day" fund. The amount of the payment into the fund cannot be determined until this fiscal year ends and the precise amount of the budget surplus is known.

ACCOUNTING SYSTEM: Councilmembers generally support the purchase of new software to improve the management of local government and the more careful expenditure of taxpayer's money. This is an expensive undertaking and also requires upgrades in IT systems, employee training, and the transfers of databases. The cost of this new accounting system is $8 to $10 million and it will be financed over five to seven years.

CSEA EMPLOYEES: Councilmembers have indicated support for increasing the pay for government employees who are not covered by the public safety contracts. Their pay raise will be in the 3.8 to 5.0 percent range. An increase in the higher range is more likely.

STREETS: Because of deferred roadway construction, many of Lexington's streets are in poor condition. Councilmembers are looking at ways to improve streets, reduce traffic, and enhance signalization. In addition to roadway funds received from state government, some councilmembers support additional funding. Road improvements seem to be the top concern and priority of Lexingtonians.

NEW EMPLOYEES: Mayor Isaac has recommended adding 177 new employees. Although there is support to add new personnel in the public safety sector, most likely the Council will eliminate a number of the proposed new jobs. Our LFUCG employees will be well compensated with the new pay raises. They must increase their productivity and the efficiency of our local government with improved skills and technology.

SERVICES: Social and general services will have substantial increases for the coming fiscal year. The mayor and council are both supporting a safety net for our poor, sick, unemployed and disabled citizens. Funding for parks will increase summer services over last year's levels.

THE FUTURE: Economic factors beyond the control of local government will either increase or diminish the amount of estimated tax receipts received by LFUCG in the coming year. Hopefully, the FY 05-06 will see good to moderate growth in Fayette County's tax base. By keeping LFUCG revenue forecasts and expenditures on the conservative side, the Urban County Council will position your local government for whatever the future may hold in 2006.   Less government is better government.