Lexington, Ky., Mayor Teresa Isaac wants to spend $7.3 million of the city's budget surplus on storm water projects and pay equity for city employees.

The city announced it has a preliminary budget surplus of nearly $17.8 million from the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to a report in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Isaac has proposed spending $5.5 million on storm water projects and $1.8 million in back pay to correct pay equity issues for some employees.

According to city officials, the back pay for city employees should have been in Isaac's budget this year, but storm water projects are the "topic of the moment" since two women died during flooding caused by torrential rains last month.

Additional money is needed to fund the city's $117 million storm water project list, but the council should be careful about throwing money at those projects, said Councilman Kevin Stinnett of the council's Storm Water Funding Task Force. "We need to make sure we can spend the money within a year."

Isaac did not have a list of projects that would get the $5.5 million yesterday. During a council work session, Isaac said the list would include projects that address safety issues and could be completed in a year.

Source: LH-L