Council places Lexington-Fayette County Parking Authority FY26 budget with rate increases on docket; resolution set for Sept. 1 implementation

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council placed on the docket a resolution approving the Lexington-Fayette County Parking Authority (LexPark) FY26 budget and proposed parking-rate adjustments, with a proposed effective date of Sept. 1, 2025.

LexPark Executive Director Laura Boyson outlined operational needs that the authority says motivate the rate changes: aging garages that require capital work, technology refresh cycles with shorter lifespans, safety investments including cameras and integration with the city's FUSIS system, and rising maintenance costs. "Technology has a 6 year life span, and we are coming up on that 6 years," Boyson said. She told council members LexPark spends about $1 million annually on garage maintenance and is planning a multi-year capital program estimated at roughly $14 million.

Boyson framed part of the requested change as behavioral and safety-focused, saying some parking infractions that impede visibility or pedestrian access are not only inconvenient but dangerous. "We're looking to take those (on-street safety fines) to a minimum of $50," she said, adding the most egregious violations could go to $100. She proposed an implementation window and asked council for feedback; LexPark suggested a 60-day lead time and offered Sept. 1 as a possible start date to allow outreach.

Council discussion probed enforcement and communication plans. Several council members urged more public outreach before rate changes take effect and asked LexPark to consider carve-outs for city employee parking that are governed by contract. LexPark said it is coordinating separately with city fleet and other departments about employee parking concessions under existing contracts.

Councilmember James Brown moved to place the FY26 budget resolution, including the rate changes, on the docket with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2025; Councilmember Baxter seconded. The council then voted by voice to approve placing the resolution on the docket (voice vote; no roll-call tally recorded).

LexPark told council members it already provides free holiday parking in its garages, operates the residential parking permit program, runs safety and ambassador programs downtown and has implemented security cameras and FUSIS integration in its garages. Boyson said LexPark also waives a portion of citations in many cases and runs a "food for fines" program that doubles donations to community partners.

The docket vote does not itself adopt the FY26 budget or the final rate schedule; it moves the formal resolution forward in the council process for final consideration. The authority and councilmembers signaled a desire for clearer public outreach and additional coordination on implementation timing before a final vote.

Votes and next steps: Council voted to place the resolution on the docket; the resolution will return for formal consideration before a final vote and formal adoption. LexPark asked the council to consider an implementation date no earlier than Sept. 1, 2025, to allow outreach and operational transition.