Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday will likely decide how much city property taxes will increase and how much to charge residents to use the rec centers.
City staff members are recommending three options for commissioners to consider for the city’s 2026 budget, but the meeting agenda item states that “The Commission can adopt one of these scenarios or any iteration thereof.”
The property tax rate and the level of recreation center membership fees approved could affect each other.
Tuesday’s is the last regularly scheduled commission meeting before the city’s budget must be filed with the county clerk by Oct. 1.
In addition, commissioners will consider Tuesday approving water and wastewater rate increases for the next three years. Read more about that at this link. They’ll also consider approving a site at Sixth Street and Stoneridge Drive for the new Lawrence fire station; read more about that here.
Property taxes
Property taxes will increase for most property owners because assessed valuations increased about 5%.
However, commissioners will vote on where to set the mill levy, or property tax rate — a flat rate of 33.186 mills, up to a maximum of 33.986 mills, or somewhere in between.
Under the flat mill levy staff recommended, the owner of a home with an assessed valuation of $200,000 would pay the city about $763 in property taxes in 2026. However, if that home’s assessed valuation increased 5% this year, the owner’s property taxes paid to the city would increase by almost $38, to about $801.
Under commissioners’ approved maximum mill levy, the owner of a home with an assessed valuation of $200,000 would pay the city about $782 in property taxes in 2026. If that home’s assessed valuation increased 5% this year, property taxes due to the city would increase by about $39, to almost $821.
Recreation center fees
In order to compensate for a multimillion-dollar budget deficit, Parks and Recreation has proposed charging residents fees to use the Sports Pavilion Lawrence and the Holcom Park and East Lawrence recreation centers. Admission to the rec centers has historically been free for residents. (Read more background about the proposal in the articles at this link.)
Numerous community members have voiced concerns about the plans to charge for admission. In a city survey, 80% of more than 2,600 participants said they “strongly oppose” (61.2%) or “somewhat oppose” (20.3%) the fees.
Specifically, community members have voiced concerns about limiting rec center access for youths and seniors, adding to the burden on low-income households, and harming public health by limiting recreation opportunities to those who can afford them, among other things. Others have questioned the potential effectiveness, since original proposed rates were comparable to what some private gyms charge. One community member started a petition against the fees that had received nearly 2,000 signatures as of publication time.
City commissioners previously asked staff members to look at lower rates than the ones initially proposed, but most indicated that they would approve some level of membership fees for rec centers.
The three budget options staff members will present to the commission include both the original fee proposal and reduced fees.
Under the original proposal, annual memberships to use Lawrence’s recreation centers would cost $250 per adult, or $150 per senior or youth. A household membership — up to five people, including at least one adult — would cost $400 annually. Monthly rates to use the rec centers would be $25 per adult, $40 per household or $15 per senior or youth.
Under the revised proposal, monthly and annual fees would cost $12 and $120 for adults; $20 and $200 for households; or $8 and $80 for seniors. All Douglas County youths would be admitted to rec centers free, as would people who qualify under income guidelines. Membership for adults and seniors who live outside of city limits would cost 25% more ($12 and $10 per month, respectively) and households would cost 20% more ($24 per month).
Both plans also add $5 fees for spectators at youth tournaments.
City staff members set a goal of getting 3,000 paying members at the lower rates, and they estimate about $450,000 in new annual revenue for the city. Here’s a breakdown:
20250908-Adjusted-Membership-FeesMeeting info
The Lawrence City Commission will meet at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16 at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St.
The commission accepts written public comment emailed to ccagendas@lawrenceks.org until noon the day of meetings. The commission also hears live public comment during meetings, both in person and virtually.
Attendees can join the meeting virtually via Zoom, which also allows participants to provide public comment, at this link. Meeting recordings are uploaded to the city’s YouTube channel the next day.
See the budget agenda item at this link. See the commission’s complete meeting agenda at this link.
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Updates:
• Lawrence City Commission approves budget with fees to use rec centers, property tax rate increase, Sept. 16, 2025
• Lawrence City Commission approves water, wastewater rate increases for the next 3 years, Sept. 16, 2025
• City Commission approves 6th and Stoneridge as site for new Lawrence fire station; county to consider next, Sept. 16, 2025
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 coverage:
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence city budget coverage
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
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