Budget, Finance & Economic Development (BFED) Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Budget, Finance & Economic Development (BFED) Committee met on March 24, 2026, at 1:00 PM in the Council Chamber at 200 E. Main St, Lexington, KY 40507. The committee worked through 5 agenda items during the session, taking 2 votes and receiving 3 informational presentations. No public comments were heard during the meeting.

The committee approved 2 items: the February 24, 2026, Committee Summary and a matter related to Digital Accessibility. The remaining agenda items — a Monthly Financial Update for February 2026, an Opioid Abatement Fund Update, and a Review of Items Referred — were received as informational presentations without requiring a formal vote.

Attendance

The following 10 members were present at the March 24, 2026 Committee meeting:

• James Brown
• Chuck Ellinger II
• Dan Wu
• Shayla Lynch
• Liz Sheehan
• Lisa Higgins-Hord
• Whitney Elliott Baxter
• Dave Sevigny
• Jennifer Reynolds
• Joseph Hale

No members were recorded as absent or late.

Votes and Decisions

Two motions came before the Committee at the March 24, 2026 meeting, both passing unanimously.

• Motion 0258-26 — Approval of February 24, 2026, Committee Summary 0:04: Moved by Dave Sevigny and seconded by Whitney Elliott Baxter, the Committee voted to approve the summary from its previous meeting. The motion passed 10–0, with all members voting in favor: James Brown, Chuck Ellinger II, Dan Wu, Shayla Lynch, Liz Sheehan, Lisa Higgins-Hord, Whitney Elliott Baxter, Dave Sevigny, Jennifer Reynolds, and Joseph Hale. No members voted against or abstained.

• Motion 0643-25 — Digital Accessibility Plan 1:44:13: Moved by Joseph Hale and seconded by Liz Sheehan, the Committee voted to move the Digital Accessibility plan forward and send a resolution to the full council. The motion passed 10–0, with the same ten members voting in favor: James Brown, Chuck Ellinger II, Dan Wu, Shayla Lynch, Liz Sheehan, Lisa Higgins-Hord, Whitney Elliott Baxter, Dave Sevigny, Jennifer Reynolds, and Joseph Hale. No members voted against or abstained.

Contested Items

• Opioid Abatement Fund Priorities: A heated discussion arose among council members regarding the allocation of opioid abatement funds. Some council members raised concerns about how the funds were being prioritized, as well as the inclusion of a symposium as part of the proposed spending. The specific members involved in the disagreement and the final outcome of the discussion are not detailed in the available meeting data.

Approval of February 24, 2026, Committee Summary

Agenda Item 0258-26 | 4:01

The committee took up the approval of the summary from its February 24, 2026, meeting. The item was introduced with brief discussion involving Dave Sevigny and Whitney Elliott Baxter. No concerns, objections, or amendments to the summary were raised during the discussion.

The committee approved the February 24, 2026, meeting summary without dissent.

Monthly Financial Update - February 2026

4:31

Agenda Item 0259-26

Commissioner Erin Hensley, Director Wes Holbrook, and Director Melissa Lueker presented the February 2026 Financial Update for Fiscal Year 2026. The presentation was informational in nature.

The key findings of the update were positive across both major financial categories:

• Revenues were reported as above expectations for the period
• Expenditures were reported as under budget

No outcome or action was required as a result of this item, which was presented for the Committee's awareness and information only.

Opioid Abatement Fund Update

16:54

The committee received an informational presentation on proposed priorities for opioid abatement settlement funds, with discussion centered on long-term sustainability and community impact.

Agenda Item: 0260-26

Key Speakers: - Mayor - Commissioner Alan Bryant

The presentation outlined the committee's approach to directing opioid abatement settlement funds, emphasizing priorities aimed at achieving lasting community benefit. Commissioner Alan Bryant and the Mayor were the primary speakers on this item.

The outcome of the discussion was informational — no vote or formal action was taken at this meeting. The item appears to have been brought before the committee to brief members on the proposed direction for these funds ahead of any future decision-making.

*Note: Additional detail on specific funding amounts, program names, concerns raised, or debate among committee members is not available in the provided source material.*

Digital Accessibility

Agenda Item 0643-25 | 1:21:06

The Committee received a presentation on the draft Digital Accessibility Plan for Fayette County, delivered by Troy Black and Liz Rodgers. The presentation focused on three primary barriers to digital access facing residents: broadband availability, affordability, and digital literacy.

• Broadband availability was identified as a structural challenge, with portions of Fayette County lacking adequate infrastructure for reliable internet access.
• Affordability was highlighted as a barrier preventing residents from connecting to existing broadband services even where infrastructure is present.
• Digital literacy was noted as an additional obstacle, indicating that access to devices and connectivity alone is insufficient without corresponding skills and education support.

The item was presented as a draft plan, suggesting the document is still in development and subject to further refinement. Following the presentation and discussion, the agenda item was approved by the Committee.

Review of Items Referred

The committee took up agenda item 0261-26, a review of items that had been referred to them for consideration. This item was informational in nature, providing the committee an opportunity to examine referred matters as part of their regular oversight process.

No specific speakers are recorded in connection with this agenda item, and no detailed breakdown of the individual referred items, debates, or concerns raised is available in the meeting record. The item was received as informational, with no vote or formal action required.