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Fayette County Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) David O'Neill announced a voluntarily 5.8 percent budget cut in operating funds appropriated by Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG).

"We are all in this period of economic recovery and revenue shortfall together," O'Neill said. "The tax payers expect nothing less than full cooperation and belt-tightening from all government entities and the PVA office is no exception."

For fiscal year 2010, LFUCG appropriated $365,000 to the PVA office. O'Neill requested that the city reduce that number by $21,000. The office will offset the cut through savings in expenses and increased efficiencies.

Earlier this year O'Neill reduced the size of the PVA automobile fleet by 45 percent saving taxpayers approximately $5,000 per year. Additionally, the office brought services previously outsourced in house saving $4,000 per year. The remainder will come from reductions in travel, cellular service and other non-essential expenses.

"This is exactly the type of response that our current situation requires, and I hope Mr. O'Neill's proactive efforts will inspire other agencies to step up in similar fashion," Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry said. "We very much appreciate the help of the PVA and his staff in resolving this issue."