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Council Approves Budget Amid Concerns Over Sports Complex

LFUCG

The city of Lexington will have a spending plan in place when the new fiscal year starts on July 1.  The Urban County Council approved the budget by a vote of 14 to 1 Thursday night.

The $345M package provides a 3.5% raise for city employees not covered by collective bargaining, and includes money for 20 additional police officers, $5.2M for a new fire station at Masterson Station, $10M in bond money to renovate the Lexington Convention Center, and $3M for upgrades to the city’s pools. 

One controversial item dominating the pre-vote discussion was seven million dollars of seed money for a private youth sports complex off Parkers Mill Road.  That provision was enough for Council member Jennifer Mossotti to cast the lone no vote.  She says the money could be better spent on upgrades of existing facilities and public parks.

Other council members expressed concerns over the sports complex project but voted for the overall package; vowing to take a hard look at the proposal down the road. 

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray told the Herald Leader he has no plans to veto any part of the document.

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