Public Safety Receives 65.1 Percent
of All New FY 05-06 Dollars
Wow! Your councilmembers have been busy carefully reviewing the Mayor's 538 page proposed budget. The Urban County Council finalized and approved the new general fund budget (7/1/05 - 6/30/06) during the last week in June. A significant amount of spending in the fund has been allocated to public safety. Here is a summary report on how your tax dollars are being invested to make our community safer:
General Fund
(in millions)
|
|
FY 04-05 |
|
FY 05-06 |
|
Increase |
|
Percentage |
| Total General Fund Budget |
|
$219.9
|
|
$
253.5
|
|
$
33.5
|
|
15% |
| Total Public Safety |
|
113.7 |
|
135.5 |
|
21.8 |
|
19% |
| Police |
|
41.8 |
|
49.6 |
|
7.8 |
|
19% |
| Fire |
|
38.3 |
|
47.8 |
|
9.4 |
|
25% |
| Corrections |
|
26.1 |
|
29.4 |
|
3.3 |
|
13% |
As shown above:
- Public safety received 53.5 percent of the total General Fund budget ($135.5 million of $253.5 million);
- Public safety received 65.1 percent of all new FY 05-06 budget dollars ($21.8 million of $33.5 million).
Here is what is included
- The Mayor's contract with police and firefighters increases their base pay, allowances, training, benefits and pay grades. These costs are estimated to be $5.28 million this fiscal year;
- 49 new officers were authorized to be added to the Lexington police force - a 9.5 percent increase in sworn personnel;
- 45 new firefighters were authorized to staff new fire stations at Veteran's Park (south side of Fayette County off Tates Creek Road) and Bluegrass Station (east side of Fayette County, north of I-64);
- Five new and approximately 30 corrections officers, who were transferred from the juvenile detention center, were added to the Lexington Detention Center on Old Frankfort Pike. Juvenile detention is now being operated by state government;
- Two new sworn nuisance control officers were added to code enforcement to handle junk and yard maintenance issues. This department received over 7,000 nuisance inquiries last fiscal year; and
- Two new sworn inspectors were added to building inspection to accelerate response times and to help eliminate delays on new commercial construction projects.
Public safety is one of the primary responsibilities of local government. The dollars allocated by the Council indicate an increased commitment to keep Lexington's public safety efforts commiserate with housing and population growth trends. In addition to adequately funding operating costs for public safety, the Council also is investing in capital outlays (bonds) to build a new fire station, purchase firefighting equipment, and to provide vehicles and equipment for new police officers and inspectors.
Lexington's reputation for being a safe place to live and work is an important asset to our community and one of the reasons our community consistently receives high "quality of life" ratings from researchers and national publications. The Urban County Council has demonstrated a strong commitment to make sure public safety is a high priority in Fayette County.
Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.
If you would like to contact Ed Lane he can be reached via at EdLane@LFUCG.com ; and by letter at 200 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507.
Councilman Ed Lane represents the 12 th District on Lexington Urban County Council. He is the owner of a commercial real estate services firm and publishes a statewide business magazine.
 “I want to conservatively spend our tax dollars,
eliminate waste, and bring sound business ideas
to local government.”
To contact Ed Lane's 12th district council offices, e-mail him at edlane@lfucg.com.
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