City commission approves 2027 budget and Capital Improvement Plan in split vote

Commission demands stricter review of debt issuance for capital projects

Commissioners pause downtown bike lane expansions for evaluation

City police data secure following Douglas County cyberattack

City and county to send joint letter supporting Haskell funding

Woody Park deemed eligible for National Historic Register

KU Black Alumni Network celebrates 50th anniversary

1. City commission approves 2027 budget and Capital Improvement Plan in split vote

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Lawrence City Commission narrowly approved the 2027 city operating budget and the 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan in a 3-2 vote Tuesday night. The approved budget features a combined mill levy increase of approximately 1.46 mills, which includes a 1.059-mill increase for the city and a 0.4-mill increase for the Lawrence Public Library. For a home valued at $300,000, the property tax increase will amount to roughly $37 annually. Vice Mayor Courtney Shipley and Commissioner Kristine Polian voted against the resolution, citing concerns over raising property taxes and taking on additional municipal debt during times of national economic strain. Mayor Brad Finkeldei, Commissioner Mike Dever and Commissioner Amber Sellers voted in favor, emphasizing the need to fund essential public services, support market-rate pay for city employees and avoid a budget impasse.

2. Commission demands stricter review of debt issuance for capital projects

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Ahead of the budget's passage, commissioners fiercely debated the city's process for evaluating debt related to upcoming Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) projects. A commissioner urged staff to require the city's new municipal advisor, Baker Tilly, to provide a comprehensive, long-term financial plan before the city issues new bonds or spends money on engineering estimates for any CIP project. City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry agreed to the oversight request, noting that staff recently underwent financial training and will implement quarterly financial status reports. The commission will also hold a dedicated work session with the municipal advisor to assess the long-term impact of future debt on utility rates and the mill levy.

3. Commissioners pause downtown bike lane expansions for evaluation

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Despite a push from cycling advocates to reduce lanes on Kentucky and Tennessee streets to accommodate new bike infrastructure, city commissioners indicated they are hitting pause on major traffic reconfigurations. Mayor Brad Finkeldei and Vice Mayor Courtney Shipley stated they prefer a "wait and see" approach, opting to evaluate the safety and operational impact of the newly installed protected bike lanes on Ninth and Massachusetts streets before expanding the network. While acknowledging the high crash rates on the downtown express corridors, the commission cited a lack of consensus to fund or support the infrastructure changes at this time.

4. City police data secure following Douglas County cyberattack

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Lawrence Police Department suffered no data loss following a recent cyberattack that disrupted Douglas County's computer systems, city officials announced Tuesday. While staff abstained from discussing the specifics of the county's ongoing remediation efforts, officials confirmed that the local police department successfully implemented a redundancy plan that ensured uninterrupted crime reporting and documentation. City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry's office plans to provide a formal report at a future meeting detailing how the cyber incident indirectly affected municipal operations.

5. City and county to send joint letter supporting Haskell funding

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Mayor Brad Finkeldei announced that the city is partnering with the Douglas County Commission to send a joint letter to the federal government supporting full funding for Haskell Indian Nations University. The letter, addressed to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and copied to local congressional representatives, urges the immediate restoration of federal funds and the appointment of a permanent university president. The joint advocacy aligns with the city's legislative priorities, and Finkeldei expects the county commission to formally approve the dual-letterhead document later this week.

6. Woody Park deemed eligible for National Historic Register

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Woody Park is officially eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places, city staff announced during Tuesday's commission reports. Named after Elgin Woody, a prominent figure in the community who organized minority youth baseball leagues and maintained the park for decades, the site has deep historical ties to Lawrence. City staff credited local advocates and the Woody family for their diligent, collaborative efforts to secure the preliminary eligibility status, ensuring the site's history is preserved for future generations.

7. KU Black Alumni Network celebrates 50th anniversary

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The city commission formally recognized the 50th anniversary of the KU Black Alumni Network, praising the organization's half-century of mentorship, advocacy and scholarship. Representatives from the network attended the meeting to accept a mayoral proclamation, which highlighted the organization's profound impact on the Lawrence community and its legacy of inclusivity at the University of Kansas since its founding in 1976.

Click here for local obituaries

Click here for local jail logs

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

Contact Us