Fayette County Charter Amendment 1Lexington council pay raised to $59,987 a year
What your vote means
A FOR vote sets Lexington council members' yearly pay at $59,987 (adjusted for inflation), starting with the term that begins in January 2031.
An AGAINST vote keeps council pay where it is now, about $40,000 to $42,000 a year.
Our one-line summary of the official wording.
In plain words
Our summary of the official materials and local reporting.
- The Charter is Lexington's basic rulebook (the 'Urban County Government Charter'). Council pay is set in it, so changing it takes a vote of the people. source: weku.org
- $59,987 is the amount a civic assembly of 36 residents picked; WEKU says it matches the median pay of Lexington residents. source: weku.org
- The council voted 13-2 to put it on the ballot. At-large member James Brown and District 8 member Amy Beasley voted no. source: weku.org
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
- The idea came from Lexington's first civic assembly, 36 residents convened by the nonprofit CivicLex in March 2026. Each recommendation passed with more than 80% of the assembly's votes. source: weku.org
Why supporters want it
- CivicLex director Richard Young said the assembly saw "a need to broaden the type of people who can run for local office" and make it easier to serve without an outside job. source: wuky.org
- WEKU reports that two members not seeking re-election, Jennifer Reynolds (District 11) and Liz Sheehan (District 5), cited low pay among their reasons. source: weku.org
Why opponents object
- Civic assembly member Bob Smith filed a dissent on the pay increase, saying he did not want the job to become "appealing as a lifelong job." source: weku.org
Who backs each side
- Backed by the civic assembly organized by CivicLex and by 13 of 15 council members voting. No campaign committee found. source: weku.org
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
Word for word from the Kentucky Secretary of State's official Fayette County sample ballot (page image checked against its text version): sos.ky.gov (Secretary of State) .
CHARTER AMENDMENT 1:
Are you for or against ratification of an amendment to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter to provide that members of the Urban County Council shall receive a salary in the amount of $59, 987 per year, adjusted to equate with the purchasing power of the dollar, effective for the term of office which begins January 6, 2031?
- FOR
- AGAINST
Latest news
Recent reporting from a range of outlets, newest first. We link to it; we don't endorse it.
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