Lawrence residents can soon give their input on how the city should spend money next year.
The city will use A Balancing Act, an interactive online platform that allows users to upgrade some city services and downgrade others to reach a balanced budget that reflects their priorities. Users can submit their budget priorities and other suggestions to the city for consideration during the budget process.
“With A Balancing Act, community members are able to make decisions and reallocate funds among departments. But keep in mind, anyone using the tool will need to balance their interests and priorities against competing priorities from other community members as they determine how to create a budget that fits the needs of the entire community,” according to a news release from the city on Tuesday.
The platform to help shape the 2025 budget will be available online Wednesday, May 1 through Friday, May 31.
The link will be posted on the city website at lawrenceks.org/budget/current/, and there is more information about the budget process available at that link.
City staff will take the input gathered and present it to the community at two in-person sessions to be held in June, according to the release. The city will provide more information about those sessions in the next month.
City Manager Craig Owens will present his recommended five-year capital improvement plan on June 18 and his budget on July 9. The Lawrence City Commission will hold a public hearing on the budget on Aug. 20 and likely adopt the budget on Sept. 10.
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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
