The City of Lawrence is “exploring the risks associated with potentially losing $8M in funding,” according to a statement regarding a draft resolution that pledged the city would stop enforcing its equal rights ordinances in order to comply with Trump’s executive orders.
The resolution had been on the commissioners’ agenda for consideration during their Tuesday meeting. It stated that the executive branch of the federal government has “recently interpreted federal law to prohibit civil projects, programs, and activities that provide certain advantages to marginalized persons, based on a person’s class,” and said it will not provide funding to “subordinate governmental entities” that do not comply.
A staff memo to the commission stated that a significant portion of the city’s budget comes from government grants, and thus the draft resolution stated that “the Governing Body hereby suspends enforcement of all portions of ordinances, resolutions, regulations, policies, practices, and customs that would provide assistance or preference to any person based on that person’s class.”
As of Monday afternoon, though, the resolution was no longer on the agenda, nor was it listed as a future agenda item.
Community members had raised concerns about a lack of specificity and clarity in the resolution and how city staff members would follow it, potential impacts to the people of Lawrence, whether the city would “bend to the will of fascists” and more.
“To support a more thoughtful review, the resolution originally scheduled for Commission consideration has been temporarily removed from the agenda,” according to a statement from the city on Tuesday afternoon. “This step allows Commissioners and City staff — across departments, legal counsel, and strategic plan leadership — to explore potential pathways and compliance options in greater depth.”
The statement said the city was “exploring the risks” of potentially losing $8 million in funds that support transit, transportation and infrastructure planning, and community development.
For perspective, staff members citywide have been looking to make cuts within their departments over the past few months to resolve an anticipated budget shortfall of more than $6 million for next year. Expenditures in the proposed 2025 budget totaled $520.7 million.
“We want to be clear: while we may be navigating federal mandates strategically, we are not abandoning our core values. We can, and must, strike that balance,” according to the statement. “We appreciate your patience and partnership as we move forward with intention and care.”
The statement said the city recognizes the deep interest and investment from community members in this conversation.
“Public comments that have been submitted are being read, retained, and will be preserved as part of the public record should this item return for future Commission discussion,” it said.
This publication has also filed a request under the Kansas Open Records Act for public comments submitted to the Lawrence City Commission regarding the resolution.
“While we did not create this current situation, we are responsible for responding to it while retaining the well-being of the community. We ask for grace as we navigate the work ahead,” Farris Muhammad, director of equity and inclusion for the city, said in the statement. “Regardless of shifts at the federal level or who occupies the White House for four years, the people of Lawrence remain here — raising families, building futures, and hoping to retire in a city that reflects their values.”
The resolution is no longer accessible via the Lawrence City Commission’s online meeting agenda.
Here is the updated version of the agenda item and Resolution 7599 that had been posted to the agenda portal on Friday but was removed Monday:
Read more on how federal funding cuts and policy changes are directly affecting Lawrence and Douglas County community members in the articles linked below and on this page.
Contact information for the congressional delegation representing Lawrence and Douglas County is available at this link. The nonprofit 5 Calls, 5calls.org, has phone numbers and templates of scripts to help people make their voices heard on several federal issues.
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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.
More on anti-discrimination ordinances:
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence TimesCity of Lawrence cites potential loss of $8M in federal funds as reason for resolution that sparked uproar
The City of Lawrence is “exploring the risks associated with potentially losing $8M in funding,” according to a statement regarding a draft resolution that pledged the city would stop enforcing its equal rights ordinances in order to comply with Trump’s executive orders.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
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Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
