Post last updated at 4:46 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6:
Voters said “no” Tuesday to the City of Lawrence’s ballot question on changing the form of government and “yes” to a sales tax increase to support affordable housing and homelessness programs.
With all precincts reporting and most votes counted, here’s how the results shook out. Additional ballots will still be added to these vote totals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
No results are official until the general election canvass, which is set for 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18. The canvass is open to the public at the elections office, 711 W. 23rd St. Suite 1 in Lawrence.
Question 1: Changing the city’s form of government
Short version: If voters had approved this change (more “yes” votes than “no”), the five-member city commission would have become a six-member city council with a directly elected, nonvoting mayor. Four of the council seats would have represented districts that have yet to be drawn; the other two and the mayor would have been elected at large.
With the “no” vote, there will be no change to the form of government. The next Lawrence City Commission election is in 2025.
“This initiative was based on community conversations over the past several years,” City Manager Craig Owens said in a statement. “Getting it to a vote was a step to help understand how the community felt about this change. It was a good conversation that will help us appreciate better the current system and how it will continue to guide our work to serve the community.”
Question 2: Increasing the sales tax for affordable housing and homelessness
Short version: With voters’ approval of this change (more “yes” votes than “no”), the city’s affordable housing sales tax will double (from .05% to .1%) and also support homelessness programs. The change would add an extra nickel per $100 spent in Lawrence.
In a statement Tuesday, spokespeople for the City of Lawrence thanked voters for approving the tax increase.
“This vote reflects Lawrence’s deep commitment to addressing our most urgent community needs,” Owens said in the statement. “By expanding this tax, our residents have empowered the City to build on the progress we’ve made in affordable housing and significantly strengthen resources for those experiencing homelessness. This dedicated, long-term funding ensures that we can move forward with our commitment to A Place for Everyone, including impactful programs that create greater housing stability and community resilience.”
The city “looks forward to working with local agencies, advocates, and residents to implement initiatives made possible by the expanded tax, which will have a lasting impact on the availability of affordable housing and emergency shelter options in Lawrence,” the statement continued.
“We heard many important perspectives through this election process. Going forward, we will continue to balance the complexity of this work in Lawrence,” Owens said.
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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Mackenzie Clark/Lawrence TimesElection results: Lawrence voters reject form of government change, approve sales tax increase
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