LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Urban County Council moved forward on Thursday with three proposed charter amendments that voters will consider in November, including measures to cap council member salaries and establish regular charter reviews.

The amendments advanced on second reading during the council's meeting at Council Chambers, according to the official meeting docket. The proposals grew out of Lexington's first civic assembly, a randomly selected group of 36 residents who spent six weeks in early 2026 recommending changes to local governance.

One amendment would set an annual salary cap of $59,987 for council members starting in 2031, roughly $20,000 more than the current $40,000 compensation. The figure would be adjusted for inflation using 2027 as the base year. District 4 Councilmember Emma Curtis said the job requires significant time, noting the role generally demands 40 to 60 hours per week.

A second amendment would require the council to establish attendance and accountability standards, with compliance records made public. A third would mandate charter review at least every eight years through a Charter Review Assembly and establish a permanent advisory Charter Review Board.

The council also addressed personnel and budgetary matters, approving a two percent pay increase for all city employees for fiscal year 2027 and creating two new positions in the Parks and Recreation Division. Among other business, the council authorized agreements with various organizations including Palmer Engineering for preliminary design work on a Versailles Road improvement project and accepted $150,000 in state opioid response funding for the EMS Quick Response Team Program.

If voters approve the amendments in November, they would take effect for the term beginning in January 2027, except for the salary provisions which would not apply until 2031. The council's approval follows mounting interest in council compensation, with multiple council members citing pay and long hours when announcing they would not seek reelection.