Following protests, Lexington city officials vote to pass FY budget
LEXINGTON, Tenn. — One concerned resident from Lexington shares their thoughts regarding a recent budget meeting.
On May 28, Lexington aldermen met to discuss the city’s budget. At the end of the meeting there was an agreement on raising the property taxes by 74 cents.
After learning this, residents of Lexington decided to protest at Lexington’s City Hall on June 1.
Some residents shared that they will not be reelecting certain aldermen, and Lexington’s mayor, if this increase was agreed upon.
On June 10, at the aldermen budget meeting, residents gathered in the Lexington’s Municipal Building.
Residents shared their disdain at the idea of this increase in property taxes.
Some residents suggested lowering the raises from certain departments to help lower the cost of property taxes.
While other residents agreed to just have a zero increase in property taxes.
Some aldermen believed, to please residents, they would need to dip into the rainy day fund.
On July 10, aldermen met again to finalize the budget.
While at the meeting, the discussion of two new police cars were mentioned along with fixing roads around the city.
On Monday, July 29, Lexington met and had their final meeting.
It was a 4 to 3 vote to increase the property tax by 15 cents and to finalize the 2025 fiscal year budget.
“I would say they’re breathing a sigh of relief in comparison to the 74 cents. Obviously it would be better if it was no tax increase. But you know the reality is we do have to. And at times, taxes will increase and you know things happen, and inflation happens, and the world gets more expensive,” said James Lavel, a concerned resident.
During this meeting there was an exchange of words between the mayor and aldermen.
“There’s a question mark in mayor when you have a special-called meeting you are required to follow what’s on the agenda. The mayor stepped outside of that and when he did so, he was, in a roundabout way, making personal attacks on the aldermen who were fighting against tax increase,” said Lavel.
Although the outcome of the budget meeting isn’t what residents were hoping for, it did leave some residents feeling heard.
“We actually have alderman right now who’s actually listening to the citizens and paying attention and trying to do us in the best interest. We actually have elected -representatives standing up for us. That, to me, is the greatest victory here–it’s not the tax rate. Now we have people see where we are and listening to what we’re wanting and going out there fighting for us,” said Lavel.
We reached out to Lexington’s mayor and were unable to have an interview.
Lavel has shared that he will continue to educate and keep residents of Lexington informed on what’s going on.
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