Lexington's Civic Assembly proposes charter reforms to council ballot

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The General Government and Planning Committee meeting scheduled for April 28, 2026 will address three major recommendations from Lexington's first Civic Assembly, a landmark initiative that brought together 36 randomly selected residents to deliberate on charter reforms.

The assembly, organized by CivicLex, concluded its seven-session process in March with strong supermajority support for sweeping changes to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Charter. The recommendations passed with more than 84% support among assembly members, setting the stage for council consideration and a potential 2026 ballot referendum.

The most significant proposal would increase council member compensation to $59,987 annually, matching the average annual wage in Lexington. The new salary would take effect in 2031 and adjust automatically each year based on the Consumer Price Index. Current council members earn approximately $40,000 per year, making the position largely part-time and potentially deterring qualified candidates.

The assembly also recommended a mandatory charter review every eight years conducted by 36 residents selected through representative lottery. Lexington's charter has not been updated since 1998, and no formal mechanism currently exists requiring regular review.

A third recommendation would amend the charter to require the council to establish and publicly display attendance and accountability expectations, reinforcing transparency in local governance alongside any salary increases.

Though some assembly members expressed concern that higher compensation might attract candidates motivated by money rather than public service, the deliberative process ultimately achieved broad consensus. CivicLex, a local nonprofit focused on civic engagement, funded the assembly without government support, making it one of the first citizen-led charter review initiatives in the country.

Any charter amendments require approval by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council and must be ratified by voters in a general election. The council has committed to publicly responding to the assembly's recommendations and determining whether to place them on the November 2026 ballot.