The FCPS Budget Solutions Work Group, which included representatives from Commerce Lexington, presented nine solutions to address the district's projected $16 million budget shortfall without increasing the occupational license tax. Raising the tax by 0.25% was the last item on the list and was added only because it was one of ten items given to them to rank. Still, the FCPS board decided last week to proceed with holding a public hearing on the tax increase.
Commerce Lexington Board Chair, Carla Blanton, says they do not believe the best short-term option is to increase the tax.
"We were very disappointed and disheartened by how summarily the presentation that was given Monday night dismissed the recommendations of the work group," Blanton said. "It's a work group that is comprised of a cross section of the community that was chosen by Fayette County Public Schools and given information by Fayette County Public Schools, but their recommendations were just dismissed and portrayed as negative."
Blanton says if the working group’s recommendations are thrown out, then the process of the working group was a waste of time. She added that Commerce Lexington still believes the contingency fund should be used to address the deficit and is looking forward to learning the actual amount available in that fund.