Mayor Tracie Handley signed Executive Order, placing a hiring freeze on all new city positions.

(C) 2025 All Rights Reserved. Tasha Poullard tpoullard@herald-leader.com

London, Kentucky (SPA)---Mayor Tracie Handley has issued Executive Order 2025-20, which institutes an immediate hiring freeze on all new city positions. This order stipulates that job postings and interviews may proceed only with offers that require the mayor’s written approval. The purpose of this measure is to facilitate a comprehensive review of staffing and payroll.

Here are the key actions from this order:

1. Issuance of Executive Order 2025-20: Instituting an immediate hiring freeze on all new city positions.
2. Approval Requirement: Stipulating that job postings and interviews may proceed only with offers that require the mayor’s written approval.
3. Review of Staffing and Payroll: Facilitating a comprehensive review of staffing and payroll.
4. Response to State Audit: Pledging full cooperation with the state audit of London.
5. Request for Extension: Requesting a 30-day extension to organize the necessary records.
6. Invitation to Auditors: Inviting auditors to City Hall.
7. Commitment to Transparency: Committing to maintaining transparency throughout the audit process.

In addition, in response to a state audit of London, the mayor has pledged full cooperation. The mayor has requested a 30-day extension to organize the necessary records, has invited auditors to City Hall, and has committed to maintaining transparency throughout the process. given her recent appointment. She said she has asked the auditors to come down and begin their work, offered them dedicated space inside City Hall, and committed to being transparent.

You may read the executive order by downloading the file below: (Requires PDF Reader). This is a developing story.