Thanks to Stu Johnson, Kentucky Public Radio/WEKU, RichmondLexington Mayor Jim Newberry says city officials will have to make some tough budget decisions early next year.The city faces a 13-million dollar shorfall and Newberry says he's putting together a budget-reduction plan that he'll unveil in mid-January."My primary focus is lookign at trying to find any operating cost reductions other than personnel expense, where we can get our budget back in balance and avoid the necessity of having to lay off people," Newberry said.Like many cities, Lexington relies on occupational taxes for a significant portion if its revenue, but a spike in unemployment this year has caused a sharp drop in tax receipts.In Louisville, Metro Government has implemented various spending cuts to address a drop in tax receipts this fiscal year.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.