Lexington to audit council spending after anonymous tip raises questions

Lexington auditors will examine the Lexington council’s spending on food, operational expenses and neighborhood grants.

The city’s internal audit board voted Friday to begin the internal review after receiving notice from the Kentucky State Auditor’s office that it had received an anonymous complaint alleging council members were using some of that money for personal use.

Bruce Sahli, the head of Lexington’s internal audit department, said the tip did not contain any evidence of wrongdoing.

Sahli said the internal auditors will likely look at two years of spending -- 2021 and 2022.

Each of the 15 council members typically receives around $15,000 a year. Approximately $10,000 of that goes to neighborhood development funds. Council members can use that money to give to neighborhood associations and other nonprofits in their district or in the city.

Chief Administrative Officer Sally Hamilton said the internal audit will also look at neighborhood development funds and how they are spent.

The groups that receive that money do not have to report how the grant was spent after the money is allocated.

Council members also receive approximately $5,000 for travel, food and operating costs each year.

Council members can move money from some of those accounts. For example, some council members do not travel and choose to move that money into their neighborhood development fund.

Sahli said it’s not clear how long the audit will take.

Hamilton said once the audit is completed it will be sent to the state auditor’s office.