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Mayor details $5 million grant, plans cemetery cameras and accounting fixes
Summary
The mayor told the Lexington board a $5 million state grant is available with a five-year expenditure window and announced testing of cemetery security cameras; he also urged separating utility accounting software to improve financial transparency ahead of the next budget cycle.
The mayor told the Lexington board the city has access to a $5,000,000 grant that will not be included in the 2026–27 budget but can be spent within five years, and said the administration is exploring options to use that funding for projects including cemetery security.
He said the city has ordered a camera system for one cemetery that has not yet arrived and that, pending testing, the existing police camera will remain in place. The mayor said basic audio/camera equipment could cost about $5,290, but that a system capable of reliable broadcasting and high-quality audio would likely cost $25,000 to $30,000.
The mayor also raised accounting concerns for the utility department, saying the local-government software currently in use does not provide adequate utility accounting and that the city should consider separating water, sewer and gas accounting into its own system to support depreciation schedules and audits. He asked department heads to meet this week to prepare the FY budget, with a draft to be presented at the March meeting and more serious review planned for May.
"The Grant of the $5,000,000 will not be in the 20 sixth, 20 seventh budget. We have 5 years to complete this," the mayor said, noting he had discussed the plan with state officials who were "fine with it." He added that the city will test the camera system and present options to the board before committing to higher-cost equipment.
Next steps identified by the mayor included continuing vendor tests for cameras, convening department heads to finalize budget priorities and preparing any necessary policy or budget amendments if the grant is used.
