Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on September 3, 2024, at 1:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting focused on three tax-related ordinances, all of which were approved by the council. The session included three motions and votes, with no public comments recorded during the proceedings. The council successfully addressed municipal tax levies, a health department request, and soil and water conservation district funding through the passage of ordinances 0827-24, 0828-24, and 0829-24.

Attendance

The following members were present at the September 3, 2024 meeting:

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Wu • F. Brown • J. Brown • Ellinger • Elliott • Baxter • Fogle • Gray • LeGris • Lynch • Monarrez • Reynolds • Sevigny • Sheehan

Absent: • Worley • Plomin

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were present, with 2 members absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three roll call votes during the September 3, 2024 meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

Ordinance 0827-24 - An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 was motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Fogle. The ordinance passed with a vote of 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All council members voted in favor: Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott, Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Reynolds, Sevigny, and Sheehan.

Ordinance 0828-24 - An Ordinance adopting the request of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and levying a special ad valorem public health tax was motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Fogle. The ordinance passed unanimously with 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. The same fourteen council members voted in favor: Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott, Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Reynolds, Sevigny, and Sheehan.

Ordinance 0829-24 - An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for purposes of support of the Soil and Water Conservation District was motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Fogle. This ordinance also passed unanimously with 13 ayes, 0 nays, and 0 abstentions. All fourteen council members voted in favor: Wu, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Elliott, Baxter, Fogle, Gray, LeGris, Lynch, Monarrez, Reynolds, Sevigny, and Sheehan.

All three ordinances related to tax levies for the upcoming fiscal year and received unanimous support from the council. No transcript timestamps were available for these votes.

0827-24 An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes

The council considered Ordinance 0827-24, which establishes ad valorem tax rates for municipal purposes for the fiscal year July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The ordinance applies to the assessed value of all taxable property within the taxing jurisdictions of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

Council members Ellinger and Fogle participated in the discussion of this tax levy ordinance. The ordinance represents the annual process by which the local government sets property tax rates to fund municipal operations and services for the upcoming fiscal year.

The ordinance was approved by the council, establishing the tax rates that will be applied to property assessments throughout Lexington-Fayette County for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This approval allows the Urban County Government to collect the necessary revenue to fund municipal services and operations as outlined in the adopted budget.

The passage of this ordinance is a routine but essential governmental function that enables the collection of property tax revenue needed to support local government services, infrastructure, and programs throughout the fiscal year.

0828-24 An Ordinance adopting the request of the Lexington-Fayette County Health

The council considered Ordinance 0828-24, which adopts the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department's request under Kentucky Revised Statute 212.755 to levy a special ad valorem public health tax for fiscal year 2024-2025, covering the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

Council members Ellinger and Fogle participated in the discussion of this ordinance. The measure represents the annual process by which the local government authorizes the health department to collect property tax revenue to fund public health services and operations.

Under KRS 212.755, local health departments are permitted to request special tax levies to support their operations, subject to approval by the local legislative body. This ordinance formally adopts the health department's funding request for the current fiscal year.

The council approved the ordinance, allowing the health department to proceed with collecting the special ad valorem tax to support public health services in Lexington-Fayette County during the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps are not available for this agenda item.*

0829-24 An Ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for purposes of support of the Soil and Water Conservation District

The council considered Ordinance 0829-24, which establishes ad valorem tax levies to support the Soil and Water Conservation District for fiscal year 2024-2025, covering the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.

Key speakers during the discussion included council members Ellinger and Fogle, who participated in the deliberation of this annual tax levy ordinance.

The ordinance represents the standard annual process of setting property tax rates specifically designated to fund the operations and programs of the local Soil and Water Conservation District. These districts typically provide services related to soil conservation, water quality protection, erosion control, and agricultural best practices within their jurisdictions.

The council approved the ordinance, allowing the tax levy to proceed as proposed for the upcoming fiscal year. This approval ensures continued funding for soil and water conservation programs and services in the community.

*Note: Specific transcript timestamps were not available for this agenda item.*