Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Board will ask city commissioners to beef up the sustainability department’s budget in 2027 after its operating budget was slashed 89% from 2025 to 2026.
As City of Lawrence staff members look to make about $4.5 million in budget cuts, they have reopened an annual online program that allows residents to give their feedback on how the budget should be shaped, and they’ve launched an online survey.
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday struggled to specify where they want to make cuts in the 2027 budget, but they agreed they want to proceed with building a new fire station. They’ll ask community members to help find $4.5 million in cuts.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
A 3-mill property tax rate increase and the possibility of asking voters to increase a sales tax for transit are included in an early glance at the City of Lawrence’s 2027 budget plan. Commissioners will discuss it on Tuesday.
“Can our community afford an extra $21 million per year in debt payments when the city had to cut $6.6 million to balance the 2026 operating budget?” Holly Krebs writes in this column.
Tom Harper/Contributed photo
As city staff members start developing the capital improvement plan for 2027-2031, they’re asking residents to submit project requests to help guide the plan’s development.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
The City of Lawrence asked for $1,680 and 30 days to fulfill an open record request seeking information about Sports Pavilion Lawrence’s revenue and expenses.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence Transit is considering adding a $3 fare for use of its on-demand service as federal grants the city has received in the past are going to expire. Buses would still be free to ride.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Despite concerns voiced by community members, Lawrence city commissioners voted to approve a budget that will include fees for residents to use rec centers, take a fire engine offline and increase the property tax rate.
City of Lawrence staff members will ask city commissioners Tuesday to sign off on 555 Stoneridge Drive as the site of the next fire station, estimated to cost $12.96 million.
