[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6699319,"mediaKeyId","2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6","parentId",2135633,"title","Kentucky League of Cities urges modernizing local revenue rules; flags threats to municipal finance","audioSeconds",1078,"startMs",1555000,"endMs",2633000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6&start=1555&end=2633","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6/thumbnail_1555000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6699319/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Kentucky-League-of-Cities-urges-modernizing-local-revenue-rules-flags-threats-to-municipal-finance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699319-d91bf24698e2cf1fec48af062357a885/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584157&Signature=OKFAf6OrzvwibtDbzXvMDlm2KqAT2B87Oa3ZWcsVSBB3Ieh5Wfh1bOpr-KZCHyZwF1-KDUE9oHDBtOoRiZkCeBZVfOcj1wedNb9sNmPwiNadsZVMmHwvemGdbYuzAolz-2zh7itrr7qLGkoAbxAOcSB516RK0EOOdBZ4fef2tZawyRWDdscbtpQO2U54XHmt8B24tqNKOIjg9QnjQzAhA-sceGjxhqX4T3C~BuVrRwT7IZG4ZiZppnSAn-f7BEExEDuAUFfaX0HGbFLtgizU50ZMbn~fjKmHbr-Fvqt8w2JS15rmFmFPmOV3HUlmooMBQ4yXfmUlPJLzzLZjjYi54Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-01-21T00:00:00Z","article","JD Cheney, CEO of the Kentucky League of Cities, told the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council at its Jan. 21, 2025, work session that the League’s short legislative session priorities include modernizing the state road‑funding formula, clarifying which cities may impose a restaurant tax and protecting local governments from mandated state collection of local taxes.

Cheney told council members the municipal share of state road funding is skewed toward county and unincorporated-area allocations and that modernizing the formula would better align state distributions with city street maintenance demands. “Municipal road aid is heavily tilted toward counties,” Cheney said, describing Lexington’s position as a merged government that receives both municipal and county allocations but still faces inequities in the formula.

Why it matters: Cheney said the League seeks statutory and constitutional fixes that would give cities more stable, equitable revenue and preserve home-rule decision making. Council members pressed for more detail on the prospects of a constitutional amendment to expand the city revenue toolbox, and Cheney explained the amendment would need three-fifths approval in both chambers and then voter approval statewide.

Key points from the update

- Road funding and municipal aid: Cheney said the League is seeking to “modernize the road funding formula” so municipal governments receive a fairer share of state sales- or gas-tax–derived aid for local street maintenance instead of relying heavily on local general funds.

- Restaurant tax litigation and constitutional constraints: The League is monitoring a Court of Appeals case brought by the city of Hazard that challenges historical distinctions among cities under Kentucky’s constitution. Cheney said the League’s board supports clarifying the law so cities of all sizes could choose to impose a restaurant tax for tourism-related projects, but he said pending litigation reduces the likelihood the legislature will act immediately.

- Constitutional amendment prospects and occupational tax tradeoffs: Cheney described long-running League efforts to update provisions he cited as coming from Kentucky Constitution Section 18/91 and warned that proposals tied to surrendering occupational taxes would be difficult for cities like Lexington, which rely heavily on occupational-tax revenue.

- Defending local collection and municipal finance: Cheney told council members the League is campaigning to oppose proposals that would require the state or a third party to collect local taxes — a change the League says would threaten local autonomy and could destabilize municipal finance.

- Federal-level concern: Cheney flagged a separate federal policy discussion about removing the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds, which, if enacted, could significantly affect cities’ capacity to sell debt affordably.

Next steps and council response

Council members asked for follow-up materials and a post-session wrap-up. Cheney said League staff will provide the full legislative agenda and suggested the League could return after the session for a wrap-up presentation. Cheney also offered multiple contact points (gkelley@klc.org and jd@klc.org) for staff and council to follow up on specific bills.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Council Work Session - Jan 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Kentucky League of Cities CEO JD Cheney briefed the Lexington council on the 2025 legislative agenda, stressing the need to modernize road funding and local revenue options and warning of several statewide and federal fiscal threats to city budgets.","taxTitle","Lexington City, Fayette County, Kentucky","taxId",5707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6699324,"Residents and council members press for more staff and oversight as 1 Lexington details decline in youth shootings",4155,224000,4379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6&start=224&end=4379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6/thumbnail_224000.jpg","/articles/6699324/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Residents-and-council-members-press-for-more-staff-and-oversight-as-1-Lexington-details-decline-in-youth-shootings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699324-2807be32ff9a824c29f704b1ecf59536/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584157&Signature=lXfSIY1L2l2QBc5IdPfdqDXkHZDJnx6j-F5AGc6OaoRwE-t2HU9fEht8t-EbYqKgXPGvIOF3xPeCWIxQ5REWxiVlI8xXX-AbhsXKVL8aFg7kniH81Ey1uA-5Flf5PjZ9~IooLpjTh1HWK9gfz3wPwUl7u5jDdCWHA2uzIrJAmBC0JXLlv~AEPUxoTzQg60Zmvt~cyrNuup8Gwr5H~6WmtAB5wtBYZQET7-K1Pi7CeemD~A7jN20b2wLU~0Jm1NXAIMpw~fvq2mkfBnw5XZ0wozHc5kOxHmznJdrUL2Kq8QEl6RaR3r9w7kp7r-G5vaVEIBFN9YAYkNbW6Fp-2VVI3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Lexington Fayette Urban County Council work session on Jan. 21, 2025, the city-funded violence intervention initiative 1 Lexington reported year-end results showing fewer shootings and homicides among the young people the program serves, while residents and council members pressed its leaders for clearer financial processes and more staff after a recent internal audit.

The report, presented by Devine Karama of 1 Lexington and members of his staff, said the program’s targeted age range has been adjusted to 10–29 and that the initiative’s casework and school-based mentoring reached students in 29 Fayette County Public Schools. Karama said nonfatal shootings in the program’s age cohort fell from about 135 in 2021 to 66 in 2024, and that young-person homicides in that cohort fell from 24 to 10 over the same period.

The figures, Karama said, reflect work by community nonprofits, schools, survivors and 1 Lexington’s staff. “We are a city initiative that leverages community partnerships and government funding to address youth and young adult gun violence,” Karama told the council during the presentation.

Why it matters: Council members described 1 Lexington as a central coordinating body for community-based violence intervention (CVI) work in Lexington. Council members and residents said they want the program to keep improving recordkeeping and to gain capacity so crisis-response and survivor services can be expanded and — where appropriate — shifted to fully staffed community nonprofits that can deliver wraparound services without the administrative limits of a city program.

Discussion highlights and follow-up items

- Audit and financial controls: Public commenter Shambra Mulder, a licensed psychologist and District 2 resident, cited the initiative’s recent audit and pointed to what she said was an advertised salary for a human-resources manager of $85,693.92. Mulder urged the council to consider providing 1 Lexington with administrative staff to tighten processes around grants and payments and to scale case management. In response, Karama and staff described changes they have already implemented after the audit, including strengthened documentation tied to each emergency payment or gift card and more complete reconciliations for ProCard transactions.

- ProCard and vendor questions: Council members pressed 1 Lexington on past payment practices raised in the audit report, including split transactions and use of online payment platforms. Karama explained that earlier practices reflected limited staffing and that the program has since consolidated documentation and corrected processes; he said the program now links receipts to the full supporting paper trail for each emergency payment.

- Service model and results: Karama described several program components — in-school mentoring (29 schools served), crisis response teams, youth mediation and scholarships. He said the program is shifting some summer resources into in-school mentoring because weekly contact during the school year has shown stronger academic and behavioral improvements. Karama described a new “Building Bridges to Opportunity” strand of scholarships and skills grants that expands access for rising seniors and training pathways (CDL, HVAC and similar tracks) and funds trauma-informed care for survivors.

- Community handoff for survivor services: Several council members and Karama discussed issuing an RFP to place survivor-centered, long-term trauma and case-management services into the hands of a community nonprofit with sustained capacity (examples named during Q&A included Lexington Rescue Mission and other local service providers). Karama said 1 Lexington’s team supports moving more survivor support to community-based providers that can deliver longer-term services.

Ending note: Council members thanked 1 Lexington staff for the presentation and urged continued openness about audit follow-up. Karama said the initiative will pursue the strategic planning session scheduled for early February to finalize program adjustments and to incorporate survivor, youth and community feedback.

","1 Lexington, the city-funded violence-prevention initiative, presented a year-end report showing declines in shootings among youth while residents and council members pressed the program for clearer financial controls and more administrative support following an internal audit.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6699309,"Resident urges city to prioritize sidewalk clearing after 'snowpocalypse'",164,605000,769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6&start=605&end=769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6/thumbnail_605000.jpg","/articles/6699309/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Resident-urges-city-to-prioritize-sidewalk-clearing-after-snowpocalypse","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699309-60f6548f2f4c870a3afd3fcd6ca5a31a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584157&Signature=imdzJpxUCptsJER5NpprRFSB4QARmKpQ-kPwLdJBeoaEts3W~xmHh0GhKSiXlzX0GZ1xZvwabXnj6uhiNFVIhzsU6OZ~h3RxULpVdXerw7tWxeD-QmSEOdFByhn9UunYFl1-wJH9ru4hc7omPETHcAwxYBFzQB~EEWvCDEQKfFBvGqmCzoxT3vF6brAdlHohEU-GpuZ0udTZAxFjYAMQcPcB885IS3lXHoqDRtwDo9wr4~ULD~G40Jw1JLe93d3iZJyYEclEmh9dTi~oqFyNoRBHezXHJOuZOQ4kfF4MGWBXs7~U8b3RgcZVQiW2i7~MJhC6WYQ2Sptv~0PAa55pZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Linda Froelich, a District 10 resident, used the public comment period at the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council work session on Jan. 21, 2025, to urge city officials to make pedestrian routes a higher priority during major snow events.

“People had to walk on the street on Loudoun Avenue,” Froelich said, describing sidewalks near the county health department that remained uncleared four days into the event. She said downtown crossings were also blocked by snow piles and that people who do not have cars — shoppers, patients, people using buses and people who use wheelchairs — had difficulty moving about.

Why it matters: Residents and council members said snow responses should consider more than keeping vehicle traffic moving. Froelich asked the council to prioritize clearing sidewalks, crosswalks and accessible routes so people who cannot drive can shop, attend appointments and continue daily life safely during major snow events.

Council response: Council members acknowledged the concern and said staff are studying ways to balance clearing major arterials with pedestrian routes in future winter-weather plans. No formal policy or budget vote occurred during the Jan. 21 session.

","During public comment at the Jan. 21 council work session, a District 10 resident described sidewalks and crossings left uncleared after a recent major snow event and urged the council to include pedestrian needs in future snow plans.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6699314,"Votes at a glance: council approves docket, budget amendments, procurements and appointments",1267,133000,1400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6&start=133&end=1400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135633-f72b72786cb6de9d3957910eb3c611c6/thumbnail_133000.jpg","/articles/6699314/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-docket-budget-amendments-procurements-and-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6699314-93d54ca3563c9c19cf3bd6ab08261e1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773584157&Signature=kIpuOKA-2xQ38wPdUnuZuoIVI-njOPEmqONDTlrn93UpEIdzCp-k~goZqZL8JLOW~127weZv9qicME1lk~uUvrg-7XvqD-cdEGtD-CEcXSviwLBA~lJVbXux6GDgf2t8wjj4iPm4vlUdzGDW8ZTpN8ujBh0fkLLCR49ZqeJ7veb5Lzzr-2C1V4Go6xmfBwI-YWrqgyz4gtbVk9WR48XnFXSRcekhKb5i3KklpAg0F9n-8UtuxjVlYE61YrJJ6D4geJmBdh-oYtd~dLpOGVoAkJZKV6bKiiQPNRo-iO3I5exLNUV4agBjJOND3PDDMwFddeP7mfSiABUaUlbre8SC5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lexington Fayette Urban County Council took a series of routine actions at its Jan. 21, 2025 work session. Most votes were voice approvals with no recorded roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript.

Key outcomes

- Addition to agenda: The council approved a motion by Vice Mayor Wu to add a presentation from the Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works to the work session agenda (to be presented after the 1 Lexington year-end report). Motion passed by voice vote.

- Approve docket: The council approved the meeting docket by voice vote (motion moved and seconded; motion passed).

- Approve Jan. 14, 2025 committee summary: The council approved the summary for the Jan. 14, 2025 work session by voice vote.

- Budget amendments: The council approved budget amendments discussed at the session, including accounting set-up for a Kentucky Product Development Initiative grant and an administrative correction moving a small amount of funds to a rapid rehousing assistance line for Arbor Youth Services. Vice Mayor Wu moved the budget amendment; Council Member Baxter seconded. Motion passed by voice vote.

- New business / procurements and staffing items: The council approved a package of new-business items including procurements and training requests discussed on the agenda: purchase/authorization related to Magnet Forensics (GrayKey) forensic software for the Lexington Police Department (use restricted by warrant/consent), funding for IPTM crash-dynamics training to support collision reconstruction investigators, and authorization to add an HR manager position for the Department of Waste Management to provide on-site personnel support. Motions were approved by voice vote; details on contract values were not specified in the transcript.

- Appointments and procurements: The council approved mayoral appointments and procurement items by voice vote as listed on the agenda. No donation items were on this docket.

Notes on voting records and documentation

- The session used voice votes for multiple routine items; the transcript did not include roll-call tallies or named yes/no votes. Where a mover or second was named in the record, it is included below; otherwise the transcript records the motions as passed by voice vote.

","At the Jan. 21, 2025 Lexington Fayette Urban County Council work session the council approved the meeting docket, budget amendments, several procurements and mayoral appointments by voice vote; the agenda also added and later rescheduled a Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works presentation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kentucky League of Cities urges modernizing local revenue rules; flags threats to municipal finance

Residents and council members press for more staff and oversight as 1 Lexington details decline in youth shootings

Resident urges city to prioritize sidewalk clearing after 'snowpocalypse'

Votes at a glance: council approves docket, budget amendments, procurements and appointments